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• TITLE: Opiate exposure increases arterial stiffness, advances vascular age and is an independent cardiovascular risk factor in females: A cross-sectional clinical study

  AUTHORS: Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

  KEYWORDS: Arterial Stiffness; Heroin; Opiates; Vascular Ageing; Dependence; Human Ageing

  JOURNAL NAME: World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vol.3 No.5, July 25, 2013

  ABSTRACT: Background: Whilst several studies have demonstrated poor cardiovascular health in opiate dependence, its role as a cardiovascular risk factor has not been considered. Methods: Pulse wave analysis was undertaken by radial arterial tonometry (SphygmoCor) in female control and opiate-dependent patients and compared to lifetime opiate use. Results: 222 opiate dependent women were compared to 175 controls. Opiate dependent patients were receiving treatment with buprenorphine (83.3%), methadone (13.5%), or naltrexone (3.2%). Non log transformed chronologic age (CA) for the two groups was 33.58 ± 0.57 (opiate) vs. 32.62 ± 0.96 (controls) years (mean ± S.E.M.; P = 0.39). Vascular Reference Age (RA) 39.30 ± 1.28, vs. 35.03 ± 1.41 the RA-CA difference (5.73 ± 1.02 vs. 2.41 ± 0.91) and the RA/CA ratio (1.16 ± 0.03 vs. 1.07 ± 0.02; all P -6), was included in 10 other terms, and dose or duration was included in 15 other interactions. Conclusion: These data show that lifetime opiate use is significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness and vascular age and suggest a dose-response relationship. This relationship is robust and persists after full multivariate adjustment. These findings carry far-reaching implications for opiate-induced generalized acceleration of organismal ageing.