Cannabis Use Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that frequent cannabis use is associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The study analyzed survey data from over 430,000 adults in the US and found that the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes increased with the frequency of cannabis use.
The study, led by Abra Jeffers, Ph.D., a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, found that any cannabis use was independently associated with a higher number of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. The risk was even higher among those who used cannabis more frequently, with daily users having a 25% higher risk of heart attack and a 42% higher risk of stroke compared to non-users.
The study also found that cannabis use was associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke among younger adults at risk for premature cardiovascular disease, regardless of whether they also used traditional tobacco products.
The researchers controlled for other cardiovascular risk factors, including tobacco and/or e-cigarette use, alcohol consumption, body mass index, Type 2 diabetes, and physical activity. They also found that the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes was similar among adults who had never used e-cigarettes but did use cannabis.
The study’s lead author, Abra Jeffers, Ph.D., noted that “despite common use, little is known about the risks of cannabis use and, in particular, the cardiovascular disease risks.” She added that “smoking cannabis—the predominant method of use—may pose additional risks because particulate matter is inhaled.”
The study’s findings have important implications for population health and should serve as a call to action for healthcare providers, according to Robert L. Page II, Pharm.D., M.S.P.H., FAHA, chair of the volunteer writing group for the 2020 American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health.
“Cannabis use continues to grow in legality and access across the US, and practitioners and clinicians need to remember to assess cannabis use at each patient encounter in order to have a non-judgmental, shared decision conversation about potential cardiovascular risks and ways to reduce those risks,” Page said.
The study’s limitations include that cardiovascular conditions and cannabis use were self-reported, which may be subject to recall bias, and that the study captured data for only a single point in time for the participants. The authors note that prospective cohort studies are needed to examine the association
