Estimating trends in the prevalence of problematic cocaine use (1999-2008)
Por:
Espelt, A, Domingo-Salvany, A, Sanchez-Niubo, A, Mari-Dell'Olmo, M, Brugal, MT
Publicada:
1 sep 2015
Resumen:
Objective: To examine trends in the prevalence of problematic cocaine use in a large city and describe the problems encountered when estimating these trends using capture-recapture techniques based on secondary data
Methods: We used clinical data on accident and emergency department episodes at four university hospitals in Barcelona (Spain) between 1999 and 2008 (3 capture periods per year). Users were categorized into two subgroups depending on concomitant heroin use (cocaine plus heroin, cocaine without heroin).
Results: The mean age of users was 34 years and 25% were women (2008). The mean number of episodes per user differed between drug subgroups and over time. The estimated total number of cocaine users increased from 6,028 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 4,086-9,327) in 1999 to 22,640 (95%CI: 14,001-37.500) in 2006, but decreased thereafter. The prevalence of problematic use of cocaine plus heroin was stable throughout the study.Thus, trends in the prevalence of problematic cocaine use differed depending on concomitant heroin use.
Conclusion: Our results are consistent with those provided by health surveys and treatment registries. They also highlight the pitfalls of applying the capture-recapture approach to secondary data, and the need for a better understanding of how information is collected and changes over time. (C) 2015 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
Filiaciones:
Espelt, A:
Agencia Salut Publ Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain
Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Psicobiol & Metodol Ciencies Salut, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
Domingo-Salvany, A:
CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain
Hosp del Mar, IMIM, Drug Abuse Epidemiol Res Grp, Barcelona, Spain
Sanchez-Niubo, A:
Hosp del Mar, IMIM, Drug Abuse Epidemiol Res Grp, Barcelona, Spain
Mari-Dell'Olmo, M:
Agencia Salut Publ Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain
Brugal, MT:
Agencia Salut Publ Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain
Gold, Green Published
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