Narcotic drug abuse and other risk factors in 100 operated patients for acute cholecystitis in Birjand, Iran.

OBJECTIVE To study narcotic drug abuse, particularly opiate addiction, and other risk factors in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS In this prospective cross sectional study, variables such as age, gender, weight, narcotics drug abuse, hormone taking, number of pregnancies, and coexistent disease(s) were recorded in pre-designed forms for 100 consecutive patients who underwent operation for acute cholecystitis between October 2001 and June 2005 in Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand, Iran. Relevant statistical tests were applied, using SPSS version 13.0. RESULTS From the studied patients (62 females, 38 males) with a mean+/-SD of 60.8+/-15.9 years, 66 were underweight, 23 were overweight, and only 11 patients had normal weight. Most of the patients (76) had calculous cholecystitis, of which 50 (65.8%) were female, and 26 (34.2%), were male. Seven females (11%), and 14 males (37%) revealed jaundice (p<0.002). Most (72%) had a history of narcotics abuse, of which 69 (95.8%) abused opiates constantly, and 3 (4.2%) abused recreationally. A significant (p<0.01) relationship was found between acute cholecystitis and opiate addiction. Opiate addiction was more common in patients from rural areas than urban (p<0.03). Seventeen female patients (27.4%) had a history of taking oral contraceptives. The patients were mostly from low socio-economic populations, and rural areas. CONCLUSION The study revealed that narcotic opiate addiction is a major risk factor for occurrence of acute cholecystitis in this area.