CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN YOUNG DRUG-ADDICTS

Since the type of life-style often encountered in drug addicts is purp orted to influence their risk of cardiovascular disease, it seemed of interest to carry out a descriptive study on risk factors in young add icts. Twenty-four young intravenous drug addicts, mean age 29 years an d mean body mass index (BMI) 22.5 (kg/m(-2)), were compared with 24 he althy people matched for age, gender and EMI. Both groups responded to a questionnaire on life-style risk factors. In addition, fasting bloo d samples were investigated for several coronary risk factors. Drug ad dicts had smoked more cigarettes (17 vs. 3 cigarettes/day) for a longe r time period (15 vs. 5 years) than control subjects. They also had hi gher serum activities of liver enzymes related to alcohol abuse than c ontrols. Level of physical activity and indicators of dietary intake o f fruit, vegetables and salt were not significantly different between the groups Blood lipid values, total cholesterol (5.1 vs. 5.6 mmol/l), and HDL-cholesterol (1.2 mmol/l), apolipoproteins, and an atherogenic index reflecting the balance between the atherogenic low density lipo proteins (LDL) and the antiatherogenic fraction (HDL), as well as the smoking-related factors fibrinogen and TEARS, were all similar in both groups. The study indicates that the prevalence of many Known cardiov ascular risk factors was similar in drug addicts and matched controls.