The Amount of Phosphorus in the Blood of Heroin Abusers Compared to that of Healthy Subjects.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the current retrospective study was to assess any difference in terms of serum phosphate (P) between heroin addicts and healthy subjects.

METHODS

Between 2011 and 2012, under the authority of the Greek Organization Against Drugs (OKANA), 30 regular heroin addicts, 22 males and 8 females (Group A) participated at the study. Between 2010 and 2011, 30 healthy individuals, 22 males and 8 females (Group B), presented on an outpatient basis for either fatigue or common flu symptoms without fever at the 424 Military Hospital of Thessaloniki.

RESULTS

No significant difference between group A and B, in terms of either age (p = 0.454, Mann-Whitney test) or male/female ratio (p = 0.573, Chi2 test), suggesting a homogeneity for the population of individuals participating in the study. The mean values of serum-P in group A and B were 3.47 ± 0.65 and 3.35 ± 0.58, respectively (p = 0.45, Mann Whitney test).

CONCLUSIONS

The absence of statistical difference of serum-P between heroin addicts and healthy subjects as shown in our results should be confirmed in further studies.