Evaluation of left ventricular systolic function in opium users by strain echocardiography

Aims Heart failure is known as a health problem in the world due to its mortality and burdens on the health care system. Studies remain controversial about the effect of opium usage on systolic heart function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare systolic left ventricular function in opium users with non‐addict people by strain echocardiography and its association with serum apelin level. Methods This case–control study was conducted in 2022 at Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, on 50 opium users who referred to the addiction treatment centres and had no history of other substance usage. The addiction is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) and a history of opium consumption for at least 3 years. Fifty healthy people (non‐opium users) who were matched in terms of age and sex were enrolled as a control group. Demographic information of the participants, including age, gender and amount of opium usage, was recorded by questionnaire. Citrated blood samples were taken from all participants in the study, and serum apelin was measured by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. They underwent transthoracic echocardiography by an expert cardiologist using the same device (Philips Affiniti 50). Echocardiographic systolic parameters have been recorded and compared between the two groups. Results In this study, 100 participants, including 50 opium users and 50 non‐opium users (as a control group), were investigated. The mean age was 36.4 ± 5.08 in the opium users' group and 34.14 ± 7.2 in the control group. As both groups were matched, there were 8 (16%) women and 42 (84%) men in each of the two groups. The mean amount of ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were significantly lower in opium users than in the control group (P