Written by Caitlin Nicholson
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In a large cross-sectional study, cannabis use – particularly daily use – was independently associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and composite cardiovascular outcomes, even among never-tobacco users and younger adults.
Cannabis may mellow you out, but your arteries aren’t feeling the vibe
This cross-sectional study evaluated whether cannabis use is independently associated with cardiovascular events in U.S. adults. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data (2016–2020, n=434,104), multivariable logistic regression controlled for tobacco use and other risk factors. Daily cannabis use was linked with increased odds of myocardial infarction (aOR 1.25; 95%CI 1.07–1.46), stroke (aOR 1.42; 95%CI 1.20–1.68), and composite outcomes (aOR 1.28; 95%CI 1.13–1.44). Associations remained significant among never-smokers and younger individuals at risk for premature cardiovascular disease.
How does this change my practice?
For me, this information shifted cannabis from simply being part of a patient’s social history to being a modifiable risk factor. I now routinely ask patients – especially younger ones with chest pain or stroke symptoms – about their cannabis use, not just tobacco. I’ve started incorporating it more intentionally into risk assessments and patient education, emphasizing that daily use may carry serious cardiac risks. It’s also shifted how I think about unexplained cardiac events in low-risk patients.
Source
Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Mar 5;13(5):e030178. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.030178. Epub 2024 Feb 28. PMID: 38415581
