Evaluation of the relationship between opioid addiction and metabolic syndrome and its components in the adult population from Rafsanjan city; a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the association between opioid addiction and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk and its components. METHODS: We used data obtained from the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), as a part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). The diagnosis of MetS was accomplished using three criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Iranian IDF, and National Cholesterol Education Panel-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). Using a questionnaire, data for the demographic, anthropometric, and laboratory indices was collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 38.30, 31.58, and 34.42% based on the IDF international, IDF Iranian, and NCEP-ATP III criteria. According to the IDF international criteria, 666 (17.45%) cases were using opioids and there was a statistically significant difference between opioid use and prevalence of MetS (p < 0.001). Based on the NCEP-ATP III criteria, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of MetS based on opioid use (p < 0.001). Use of opioids was associated significantly with a decreased odds of MetS in the multivariate model based on the IDF international (Adjusted OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.98) and IDF Iranian criteria (Adjusted OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of MetS was lower in subjects using opioids. Opioid use was associated with a decreased risk of MetS development.