Alteraciones electrocardiográficas en consumidores de pasta base de cocaína del área metropolitana / Electrocardiographic alterations in cocaine base paste consumers in the metropolitan area
The adverse effects of cocaine use mainly occur in the heart and cebtral nervous system. To study the effects of cocaine base pasteconsumption on the cardiovascular system, 35 chronic cocaine base paste consumers, 26 males, aged 15 to 43 years old were studied. A clinical assessment and a resting EKG were performed. Results were compared with those of 82 healthy controls. Sixty percent of cocaine consumers had EKGabnormalities, compared with 43 percent of controls. Forty one percent of cocaine users and 33 percent of controls had a prolonged QTc. Likewise, 36 percent of cocaine users and 46 percent of controls had an incomplete right bundle branch block. Among cocaine users, an active nodal rhythm, an ischemic and a QS anteroseptal image were observed. A slightly higher frequency of EKGabnormalities were observed in chronic cocaine users, when compared with healthy controls