English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background Chemsex is a novel phenomenon referring to the use of drugs, including crystal methamphetamine, gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHB)/gamma-butyrolactone (GABA) and mephedrone, to facilitate, enhance, and prolong the sexual experience in men who have sex with men in large cities internationally. There is a growing concern about chemsex and fatal cases among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of chemsex-related intoxications. Material and methods An observational study was conducted in people living with HIV who were admitted for chemsex-related intoxications in an emergency department of a teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from 2018 to 2020. Severe acute intoxications were defined according to the Poisoning Severity Score. Results One hundred and fifteen male patients with a median age of 35.6±7 years were included in the study:15 (13.1%) in 2018, 32 (27.8%) in 2019 and 68 (59.1%) in 2020. All patients had stable housing, 107(93.0%) were Spanish citizen and 32 (27.8%) had mental health disorders. Median CD4 lymphocyte count was 624 (500–765) cells/mm 3  and 99 (86.1%) had HIV-1 RNA suppression. Poly-drug use was observed in 51(44.3%) cases and methamphetamine in 75(65,2%) and gammahydroxibutiric acid in 68 (59.1%) were the main drugs used. Potential drug interactions due to the inhibition of cytochrome P450 by antiviral therapy was determined in 36 (31.3%) patients. Severe intoxications cases affecting neurologic and respiratory systems were diagnosed in 12 (10.4%) patients and no patient died. CD4 cell counts ≤500 cells (O.R.:4.2; C.I.95%:1.2–14.6) and mental health disorders (O.R.: 2.9; C. I 95%: 0.8–9.9) were associated with severe acute drug intoxications in the bivariate analyses. Conclusions Chemsex-related intoxications are an increasing clinical problem in people living with HIV. Chemsex should be routinely screened and addressed in clinical practice, particularly for people with mental illness and low CD4 cell counts, who are at higher risk for severe intoxications.

bmc public health

Increasing emergency department admissions for chemsex-related intoxications in Barcelona, Spain, among people living with HIV: an observational study from 2018 to 2020