ABSTRACT
Stroke is the 3[rd] cause of death and although it is a common disease, its incidence is not the same in different parts of the world and depends on various factors. Opium dependency apart from being a social and cultural problem has several effects on physiological, immune and coagulation systems and consequently the risk of stroke. This case-control study was designed to determine the associations between opium dependency and stroke. The study was done in Kerman Shafa Hospital during 2003-2004 on 105 patients with stroke [case group] and 105 patients with urologic problems [control group]. Data were collected using patients history, physical examinations and diagnostic protocols and were analyzed using Chi-Square test. Both groups contained 55 females and 50 males. In the case group 31 ones [29.5%] and in the control group 18 ones [10.5%] were opium dependent that shows a significant difference between the two groups [P<0.001]. The relation between cigarette smoking and stroke was also determined [P<0.0001] and since both factors showed significant relation with stroke, logistic regression analysis was done. Odds ratio was 2.207 [P<0.012] for cigarette smoking and 2.36 [P<0.04] for opium dependency respectively