Addiction
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Multicenter Study
Drug withdrawal, cocaine and sedative use disorders increase the need for mechanical ventilation in medical patients.
Alcohol use disorders increase the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) in critically ill medical, surgical and trauma patients. Studies examining other drug use disorders (DUD) in trauma patients have not demonstrated heightened rates of intensive care unit (ICU) complications. Patients with asthma and concurrent cocaine or heroin use disorders have an increased need for MV. The objective of this study is to determine if the presence of DUD and drug withdrawal syndromes are associated with increased need for MV in medical patients. ⋯ DUD are associated with increased need for MV in medical patients. This study demonstrates the importance of screening all medical patients for DUD.