Relationship of Opium Dependency and Stroke

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the third cause of mortality and not only leads to dependency, which is a great social, individual and cultural problem, but also can affect the physiology, immune system and coagulation system such as plasma fibrinogen, and it may potentially increase the risk of stroke. This study investigated the relationship of opium dependency and stroke. METHODS: This case- control study was carried out in 2003-2004 in Shefa Hospital in Kerman, Iran. The case group included 105 stroke patients and control group included the same number of patients from urology ward. There were 55 females and 50 males in each group. Patients' data were collected through their medical history, physical examinations, and diagnosis procedures recorded in specific questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Chi square test. FINDINGS: 31 patients (29.5%) in the case and 11 (10.5%) in the control group were opium dependent and the difference was significant (P = 0.001). The relationship of cigarette smoking and stroke was also significant (P = 0.0001). To find the independent effect of each of these two factors, a logistic regression analysis was done, which showed that the independent relationship of each of these two was significant (Odds ratio = 2.207, P = 0.012 and Odds ratio = 2.36, P = 0.040 for cigarette and opium dependency respectively). CONCLUSION: Opium dependency can be regarded as an independent risk factor for stroke. As this corresponds to previous findings as to opium dependency can increase plasma fibrinogen and development of atherosclerosis, it is important for prophylactic manages.