By Amber Roman
06 Nov 2023, 17:48 PM EST
Two preliminary studies to be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in 2023 have shed light on the potential risks associated with regular marijuana use for cardiovascular health.
The first study, conducted as part of the “All of Us” Research Program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, looked at more than 150,000 adults in the U.S. The researchers focused on the relationship between daily marijuana use and heart failure.
During a nearly four-year follow-up, people who reported daily marijuana use were found to have a 34% increased risk of developing heart failure compared to those who had never used marijuana. This risk persisted regardless of participants’ age, gender, and smoking history.
Additionally, when coronary artery disease was considered, the risk of heart failure was reduced to 27%. These findings suggest a possible connection between daily marijuana use and heart failure, and highlight the importance of further studying the impact of marijuana on cardiovascular health.
The second study was based on data from the 2019 National Inpatient Sample, the largest hospitalization database nationwide. The researchers focused on adults over 65 years of age with cardiovascular risk factors, excluding those who used tobacco.
This study revealed that the 20% of marijuana users with cardiovascular risk factors were more likely to experience serious cardiac or brain events while hospitalized compared to the group that did not use marijuana.
Additionally, 13.9% of marijuana users with cardiovascular risk factors suffered serious cardiac and brain events during their hospitalization compared to non-users. Among marijuana users, the heart attack rate was 7.6%, in contrast to 6% for non-users.
These results indicate that marijuana use could be related to an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events in the population of older adults with cardiovascular risk factors.
Importantly, marijuana use has doubled in the United States since 2015, and its use is on the rise among older adults. This growth raises the need to understand the potential risks that this substance could have on cardiovascular health, especially in a vulnerable population such as older adults.
Both studies underscore the importance of further research into marijuana use and its long-term health effects. The chair of the voluntary writing group for the 2020 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on “Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health,” Robert L. Page II, Pharm.D., MSPH, FAHA, notes that the risks cardiovascular problems related to cannabis use are becoming clearer.
Healthcare professionals and the public should be aware of these risks and monitor them carefully.
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