The effect of opium addiction on arrhythmia following acute myocardial infarction

The effect of opium addiction on the appearance of different types of arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been assessed in few studies. This study is aimed to determine the effect of opium on post-MI arrhythmia and also to address the differences in the appearance of different types of arrhythmias after AMI between opium addicted and non-addicted patients. In this comparative study, participants were classified into two groups with opium addiction (n=94) and without opium addiction (n=106). Post-MI arrhythmias were determined among each group. Study populations were included all patients with first AMI admitted within 6 hours of the onset of chest pain to coronary care units (CCU) of two teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences (KUMS) in the city of Kerman, Iran. Opium addicted subjects had significantly more frequency of arrhythmia than non-opium addicted subjects (80.9 vs. 22.6, respectively; P<0.001). Opium addiction was a strong predictor for the occurrence of post-MI arrhythmias in two models of crude analysis (crude OR=14.4, P<0.001) and after adjusting for potential confounder factors (adjusted OR = 21.9, P<0.001). The prevalence of sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia and atrial fibrillation in opium addicts were significantly higher than non opium addicts (P<0.05). The results of our study showed that opium addiction is a potential and strong risk for occurring post-MI arrhythmias. © 2012 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

The Effect of Opium Addiction on Cardiac Arrhythmia after Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract: Background & Aims: This study was carried out to assess the effect of opium addiction on the incidence of different types of arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: The study population consisted of 200 patients with first AMI admitted within 6 hours of the onset of chest pain to the coronary care units (CCU) of two hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. The participants were classified into two equal groups of with post-MI arrhythmias and without post-MI arrhythmias. Opium addiction in each group was determined. Results: In the group with post-MI arrhythmia, the most common arrhythmias were sinus tachycardia (15.2%), premature ventricular complex (12.5%) and ventricular tachycardia (12%). Opium addication was significantly (P<0.001) higher in patients with arrhythmia (76%) than in the group without arrhitmia (18%). Opium addiction was a strong predictor for the appearance of arrhythmias following AMI (OR = 14.66, P<0.001). The most common type of post-MI arrhythmia following opium use was premature ventricular complex (21.3%) followed by ventricular tachycardia (20%). The corresponding values of these two types of arrhythmia in non-addict group were respectively 4.7% and 5.6% (P<0.001). Conclusion: Although all AMI patients are at risk of arrhythmia and mortality due to it, opium-addicts are at higher risk. This emphasizes the necessity of early refeming to medical centers in these patients. Keywords: Myocardial infarction, Opium, Arrhythmias, Addictio

Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors in an Urban and Peri-urban Setting, Kerman, Southeastern Iran (KERCADR Study): Methodology and Preliminary Report

Background: This article was to present the sampling and measurements methods and the main preliminary findings of the KERCADR cohort study (first round) in an urban and peri-urban setting, Kerman, southeastern Iran2009-11. Method: 5900 (3238 female) people aged between 15 to 75 years were recruited in the household survey by non-proportional to size one-stage cluster sampling. Trained internal specialists, general practitioners, clinical psychologists and dentists have assessed the study subjects by person-assisted questionnaires regarding different NCD risk factors including cigarette and opium smoking, physical activity, nutrition habits, anxiety, depression, obesity, hypertension and oral health. Blood samples were also collected for determining FBS, HbA1c, cholesterol and triglyceride. Weighted standardized prevalence estimates were calculated by STATA 10 survey analysis package. Results: The participation rate was more than 95% in all subgroups. Cigarette smoking (18.4% vs. 1.2%), opium use (17.8% vs. 3.0%) and triglyceridemia (16.1% vs. 12.0%) were significantly higher among men than women. In contrast, women were presented with higher level of sever anxiety (29.1% vs. 16.7%), obesity (16.8% vs. 9.2%), low-physical activity (45.1% vs. 39.2%) and uncontrolled diabetes (60.2% vs. 31.0%). More than 68% of all subjects have presented with moderate to severe gingival index scores. Conclusion: The first round of the KERCADR cohort with sufficient sample size and response rate provided precise estimates for the main clinical and para-clinical NCD risk factors. These evidences need to be translated into public health interventions and monitored in the next rounds of the cohort