Are amphetamines associated with adverse cardiovascular events among elderly individuals?

James R. Latronica, Taylor J. Clegg, Wen Jan Tuan, Curtis Bone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Prescription amphetamines are the most common pharmacological treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and use among older age groups is increasing. The purpose of this study is to assess the risk of adverse cardiovascular events among individuals older than 65 years. Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study using TriNetX database with propensity score matching (PSM) to assess the odds of a cardiovascular event among individuals with ADHD exposed to amphetamine compared with individuals with ADHD who were not exposed to this medication. During the index period of January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020, 13,233 individuals older than 65 years (mean age = 69 years) met the study criteria. Results: The cohort exposed to amphetamine had increased blood pressure and increased odds of cardiovascular events (odds ratio [OR], 6.16; absolute risk difference = 3.31%) compared with the control group. Conclusions: Amphetamines have clear safety data in younger age cohorts; however, this safety data may not generalize to older populations. Additional research is warranted to clarify further exposure and subpopulation-level risk factors associated with adverse cardiovascular events among older patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1074-1081
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Volume36
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Family Practice

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