Cannabis Use May Increase Your Risk For Heart Attack: New Study Finds

A recent study, “Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults,” has found that cannabis use is likely to increase one’s risk for heart attack and stroke. Heavier use is associated with an even higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, the study found. This study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) on 28th Feb, 2024.

Methods

The study, conducted from 2016 to 2020, utilized data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey in 27 American states and 2 territories. The researchers assessed the association between cannabis use (measured by the number of days of use in the past 30 days) and self-reported cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and a composite measure of all three. Multivariable regression models were employed, adjusting for tobacco use and other relevant characteristics among adults aged 18 to 74.

Key Findings

Among the 434,104 respondents, 4% reported daily cannabis use, while 7.1% reported nondaily use. The study revealed an association between cannabis use and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, with heavier use (more days per month) correlating with higher odds of these outcomes.

For daily cannabis users, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for coronary heart disease was 1.16, for myocardial infarction 1.25, for stroke 1.42, and for the composite outcome 1.28. Notably, the odds increased proportionally with the number of days of use.

Intriguingly, the study extended its focus to never-tobacco smokers, finding that daily cannabis use was associated with increased odds of myocardial infarction (aOR, 1.49), stroke (aOR, 2.16), and the composite of cardiovascular events (aOR, 1.77).

Moreover, the analysis showed similar relationships between cannabis use and cardiovascular outcomes for men under 55 and women under 65, suggesting a consistent pattern across gender and age groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Perspective

The study concludes that cannabis use is linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, with a clear dose-response relationship – heavier use correlates with higher odds of adverse events. The findings underscore the importance of screening patients for cannabis use and advising against smoking cannabis to mitigate the risk of premature cardiovascular disease and cardiac events.

This research provides valuable insights into the potential health implications of cannabis use, emphasizing the need for healthcare professionals to address this aspect when evaluating and advising patients on cardiovascular health.

The study can be accessed here.