title: Effects of opium consumption on cardiometabolic diseases.
abstract: Opium is the second-most-commonly abused substance (after tobacco) in developing countries of the Middle East region, and in many Asian nations. One of the reasons for the high prevalence of opium abuse in these countries is a traditional belief among Eastern people, even including some medical staff, that opium might have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and in the control of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. In this Perspectives article, we summarize the current understanding of the pharmacotoxicology of opium and its specific effects on glycaemic control, blood pressure, lipid profile, and atherosclerosis. On the basis of the available evidence, we believe not only that opium has no ameliorating effect on cardiovascular diseases, but also that the use of this drug might have adverse effects on these conditions. Therefore, people should be educated about the hazardous effects of opium consumption on cardiometabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Karegar Shomali Street, Jalal al-Ahmad Cross, 14117-13138, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masoudkabir
authors.forename: Nizal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarrafzadegan
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003469:Culture; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D009892:Opium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009892:Opium