A recent study of 430,000 U.S. adults found a worrying link between marijuana use and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that frequent cannabis use, whether by smoking, eating, or vaporizing, is associated with adverse cardiovascular effects, even after controlling for tobacco use and other cardiovascular risk factors. It was found to be significantly associated with vascular outcomes.

“Despite its common use, little is known about the risks of cannabis use, particularly the risks of cardiovascular disease,” said study lead author Abra, a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Jeffers said.

The analysis, based on survey data collected from 2016 to 2020, revealed several important findings.

Increased risk: Cannabis use was independently associated with increased cardiovascular adverse events, including coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Furthermore, even after controlling for other cardiovascular risk factors, more frequent use was associated with even higher odds of adverse outcomes.

Regular use: Daily cannabis users and non-users have a higher risk of heart attack than non-users, with daily cannabis users having a 25% higher chance of having a heart attack. was shown.

Risk of stroke: People who used cannabis daily were 42% more likely to have a stroke than non-users, while those who used cannabis less than daily had a lower risk.

Young adults: For young adults at risk for early-onset cardiovascular disease, cannabis use was significantly associated with combined odds of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, regardless of smoking status.

The study included adults aged 18 to 74, about half of whom identified as female. The majority of participants did not use cannabis at all, but 7% used it less than daily and 4% used it daily. Smoking is reported to be the most common form of consumption among current cannabis users.

However, this study had limitations including self-reported cardiovascular disease and cannabis use, potential recall bias, and lack of health data measuring baseline lipid profile and blood pressure.

Robert L. Page II, PharmD, MSPH, FAHA, Chair of the 2020 Volunteer Writing Group, said, “The results of this study have critical implications for human health and are important to all healthcare professionals. This should serve as a call to action.” American Heart Association Scientific Statement.

“As the legality and access to cannabis use continues to expand across the United States, practitioners and clinicians are encouraged to share and discuss decision-making in a non-judgmental manner about potential cardiovascular risks and how to reduce them. “We need to remember to assess cannabis use every time we see a patient,” Page added.