title: Mortality rate among crack/cocaine-dependent patients: a 12-year prospective cohort study conducted in Brazil.
abstract: Mortality is a significant outcome among Brazilian crack/cocaine-dependent patients yet not well understood and is under investigated. This study examined a range of mortality indicators within a cohort of 131 crack/cocaine-dependent patients admitted into treatment and meeting criteria for dependence of crack (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition). After 12 years of treatment discharge, 107 individuals were reassessed and 27 death cases were confirmed by official records, wherein in its majority were caused by homicide (n = 16). In this group, survival rate was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74-0.81) and previous history of IV cocaine use was identified as a predictor of mortality (2.5, 95% CI = 1.08-5.79). High mortality rates among Brazilian crack/cocaine-dependent patients, exposure to violence, and HIV/AIDS were topics discussed in this study. This research highlights the importance of ongoing programs to manage crack/cocaine use along with other treatment features within this population.
authors.affiliation: INPAD National Institute on Alcohol and Drug Policies, Department of Psychiatry, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil. andreaabead@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Andréa C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Marcelo R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Ricardo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sesso
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laranjeira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012114:Residential Treatment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D016578:Crack Cocaine