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

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

5 Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

10.34172/ahj.2023.1388

Abstract

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 350 participants of the phase 2 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 IU22 ultrasound machine was used to measure the CIMT.

Findings: The mean age of the participants was 42.28±12.58 in the addicted group and 35.99±15.38 in the non-addicted group 
(P=0.001). CIMT was similar in the two groups (P=0.170). 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.

Highlights

Ahmad Enhesari:  (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Roohollah Abasnia: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Amir Baniasad: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Shahin Narouee Nosrati: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Hamid Najafipour: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Mohammad Hossein Gozashti: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords

References

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Addiction & Health
Volume 15, Issue 2
April 2023
Pages 93-99

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