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

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.