Exploring Unconventional Risk-Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases: Has Opioid Therapy Been Overlooked?

Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, Luma Akil and Hafiz A. Ahmad
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Oluwabunmi Ogungbe: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USA
Luma Akil: Department of Behavioral and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USA
Hafiz A. Ahmad: Department of Biology, Jackson state University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-10

Abstract: Approximately 2150 adults die every day in the U.S. from Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) and another 115 deaths are attributed to opioid-related causes. Studies have found conflicting results on the relationship between opioid therapy and the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study examined whether an association exists between the use of prescription opioid medicines and cardiovascular diseases, using secondary data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) 2015 survey. Of the 1829 patients, 1147 (63%) were male, 1762 (98%) above 45 years of age, and 54% were overweight. The rate of cardiovascular diseases was higher among women [( p < 0.001), 95% CI: 0.40–0.51]. The covariates were age, race/ethnicity, sex, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension; and were adjusted. Diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension were significant predictors of CVD [( p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.57–0.78); ( p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.34–0.44); ( p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.49–0.59)]. There was no significant association between prescription opioid medication use and coronary artery disease [first opioid group p = 0.34, Prevalence Odds Ratio (POR): 1.39, 95% CI: 0.71–2.75; second opioid group: p = 0.59, POR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.61–2.37, and third opioid group: p = 0.62, POR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.45–1.6]. The results of this study further accentuate the conflicting results in literature. Further research is recommended, with a focus on those geographical areas where high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases exists.

Keywords: cardiovascular diseases; opioids medication; hypertension; myocardial infarction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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