Investigating the Relationship between Carotid IntimaMedia Thickness (CIMT), Opium Addiction, and Components of the Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Atherosclerosis has an essential role in causing cardiovascular diseases. Various factors affect the risk of coronary artery atherosclerosis, and the increase in the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a primary marker for detecting atherosclerotic changes in the artery wall. Since opioid use is one of the leading social and health problems in many countries, this study aimed to detect the factors influencing the increase in CIMT in opium consumers.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۳۵۰ participants of the phase ۲ of the KERCADRS cohort study who visited Besat clinic in Kerman and were divided into addicted and non-addicted groups. The participants in both groups underwent carotid artery ultrasound, and the Philips IU۲۲ ultrasound machine was used to measure the CIMT.Findings: The mean age of the participants was ۴۲.۲۸±۱۲.۵۸ in the addicted group and ۳۵.۹۹±۱۵.۳۸ in the non-addicted group (P=۰.۰۰۱). CIMT was similar in the two groups (P=۰.۱۷۰). Moreover, CIMT had a significant positive correlation with age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and triglyceride in both addicted and non-addicted groups. Age, weight, waist circumference, SBP, and BMI in the multivariate model were significant determinants of CIMT in the addicted group.Conclusion: The results revealed that age, weight, waist circumference, SBP, and BMI were the factors influencing intima thickness in opium consumers, and no significant relationship was observed between addiction to opium and CIMT.

Keywords:

Carotid intima-media thickness , Diabetes , Dyslipidemia , Hypertension , opium addiction