Does opioid addiction influence clinical and angiographic outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing emergency PCI?

Despite recognizing the traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, some secondary factors, such as opioid substance abuse, have to be considered. We aimed to assess the relationship between opioid consumption and emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) revascularization results, according to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow and in‑hospital survival outcomes in ST‑elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

This case–control study was conducted on 186 patients (93 patients in each group) with acute STEMI, who were referred to Chamran Heart Center, Isfahan, Iran. Opioid addiction was diagnosed by patients’ records and confirmed by conducting an interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM‑IV) criteria. Patients in both groups were evaluated and compared for angioplasty results based on the TIMI flow grade and in‑hospital cardiovascular events and complications.

Ninety‑one patients (97.84%) of each group were male, and opioid‑addicted patients were younger than the non‑opioid users (52.95 9.91 vs. 57.90 12.17, P = 0.003). Among the CAD risk factors, prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in non‑opioid users, whereas cigarette smoking was higher in opioid‑addicted patients (P < 0.050). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding pre‑ and post‑procedural myocardial infarction complications as well as mortality rate (P > 0.050). Also, there were no significant differences between the opioid and non‑opioid users regarding TIMI flow grading, and successful PCI rate based on achieving TIMI III was 60.21% versus 59.1% in opiate‑dependent and non‑opioid users, respectively (P = 0.621).

Opioid addiction has no effects on post‑PCI angiographic results and in‑hospital survival outcomes in STEMI patients which undergoing emergency PCI.