Khat Chewing among Male Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction in Hadhramout

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The habit of Khat
(Catha edulis) chewing for its amphetamine-like
effects is highly prevalent in Yemen and East Africa, and expanded to USA and Europe. The aim
of this study is to determine the frequency of khat
chewing among male patients with acute cerebral
infarction (ACI) and its effects.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort
hospital-based study. Medical record files of all
male patients admitted in Ibn-seena General Hospital in the period 2011-2015, with the diagnosis
of ACI to estimate the frequency of khat chewing
among them and its effects.
Results: Male patients with ACI were 774 patients and with hemorrhagic stroke (HS) were 194
patients. Chewing khat among ACI patients was
significantly higher than HS (OR 1.78, 95% CI
1.24-2.57, p = 0.0017). Khat chewers were significantly younger than non-chewers (59.1±11.8
and 68.9±15.3, respectively, p =0.001). Hypertension was significantly higher among chewers
than non-chewers (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.07-1.94, p
= 0.016).Smoking was higher among chewing patients, while diabetes was higher in non-chewing
patients but both were not significant. Insignificant
differences between chewers and non-chewers regarding to previous stroke attacks, transient ischemic attacks, and atrial fibrillation. Clinical presentation of stroke, as well as in-hospital mortality
did not show any statistical significance between
chewer and non-chewer male stroke patients.
Conclusion: Chewing khat was a risk factor for
ACI more than HS. ACI attacks khat chewing victims in a younger age Hypertension was associated
with khat chewing more than with non-chewers.
No difference in clinical presentation and in-hospital mortality between chewing and non-chewing
patients.