ASSOCIATION BETWEEN KHAT CHEWING AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

Cathinone, cathine, and norephedrine are the main active ingredients in khat. The main active ingredient in khat leaves, catehinone, shares structural and functional characteristics with amphetamine. Khat use is a risk factor for the start of AMI on its own. Khat users were typically older men, more likely to present late, had higher heart rates, had a higher Killip class when admitted, had a higher risk of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and were less likely to have a history of coronary artery disease or cardiovascular risk factors. Khat users were at higher risk for ventricular arrhythmia, stroke, cardiogenic shock, recurrent myocardial ischaemia, and mortality.