MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, we examined 294 patients over the age of 18 who were using synthetic cathinones and opioids. All patients underwent electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography.

RESULTS: Our study involved 183 patients using synthetic cathinones and 111 patients reporting opioid use. The average age of the patients was 32.4 ± 8.5 years. In patients using synthetic cathinones, electrocardiography showed a lengthening in the average duration of the ventricular QRS complex (70.5 ± 13.3 ms vs. 69.6 ± 11.7 ms), T wave (154.1 ± 27.5 ms vs. 140.4 ± 24.1 ms), and QT interval (338.2 ± 28.5 ms vs. 334.8 ± 33.5 ms), as well as a shortening of the P wave (79.1 ± 12.2 ms vs. 82.6 ± 14.4 ms) and PQ interval (146.4 ± 19.6 ms vs. 148.3 ± 20.1 ms). Echocardiography confirmed left ventricular hypertrophy in 10.9% of the synthetic cathinones group and 17.1% of the opioid group. Transmitral left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed in 23.5% of patients in both groups. Additionally, 31.1% of patients using synthetic cathinones and 44.1% of those using opioids had a reduced ejection fraction on echocardiography.