Injection-Related Venous Disease and Walking Mobility

ABSTRACT

Injection users are at risk for vascular injuries resulting in chronic venous disease (CVD). The authors examined walking mobility in relation to CVD for 713 individuals in methadone treatment. The authors used a cross-sectional, comparative design that was stratified on age, sex, ethnicity, and drug use. CVD was present in 92.3% of participants. The structural equation model supported the causal link between leg injection and CVD (.40, P<.001). The worse the mobility, the greater was the CVD classification (−.21, P<.001). CVD had an indirect effect on mobility through pain. CVD and pain need to be considered when assessing mobility in illicit drug users.

KEYWORDS:

• Injection drug use
• chronic venous disease
• walking mobility
• leg pain

This project was funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research/National Institute of Health (NINR/NIH), Effect of Drug Use on the Legs: Chronic Venous Insufficiency, Mobility and Pain, R01 NR009264. The authors acknowledge Terri Gibbons, Valerie Grech, and Joyce Peck as research assistants. The authors acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the following methadone treatment centers: Department of Human Services, Building 5 & Gratiot, Detroit; Metropolitan Rehabilitation Clinics, Oak Park; Millennium Treatment Services, Madison Heights & Warren; Nardin Park Recovery Center, Detroit; New Light Recovery Center, Detroit; Parkview Counseling Centers Detroit, Dearborn Heights, & Pontiac; STAR Center Inc., Detroit; University Psychiatric Centers – Jefferson, Detroit.