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. 2024 Mar 5;13(5):e030178.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.030178. Epub 2024 Feb 28.

Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults

Abra M Jeffers  1   2   3   4 , Stanton Glantz  5 , Amy L Byers  6   7   8 , Salomeh Keyhani  1   9   10
Affiliations

Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults

Abra M Jeffers et al. J Am Heart Assoc. .

Abstract

Background: We examined the association between cannabis use and cardiovascular outcomes among the general population, among never-tobacco smokers, and among younger individuals.

Methods and results: This is a population-based, cross-sectional study of 2016 to 2020 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey from 27 American states and 2 territories. We assessed the association of cannabis use (number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days) with self-reported cardiovascular outcomes (coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and a composite measure of all 3) in multivariable regression models, adjusting for tobacco use and other characteristics in adults 18 to 74 years old. We repeated this analysis among nontobacco smokers, and among men <55 years old and women <65 years old who are at risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Among the 434 104 respondents, the prevalence of daily and nondaily cannabis use was 4% and 7.1%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for the association of daily cannabis use and coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and the composite outcome (coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke) was 1.16 (95% CI, 0.98-1.38), 1.25 (95% CI, 1.07-1.46), 1.42 (95% CI, 1.20-1.68), and 1.28 (95% CI, 1.13-1.44), respectively, with proportionally lower log odds for days of use between 0 and 30 days per month. Among never-tobacco smokers, daily cannabis use was also associated with myocardial infarction (aOR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.03-2.15]), stroke (aOR, 2.16 [95% CI, 1.43-3.25]), and the composite of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke (aOR, 1.77 [95% CI, 1.31-2.40]). Relationships between cannabis use and cardiovascular outcomes were similar for men <55 years old and women <65 years old.

Conclusions: Cannabis use is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, with heavier use (more days per month) associated with higher odds of adverse outcomes.

Keywords: cannabis; cardiovascular; nonsmoking.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Dose–response correlation graph of the magnitude of the OR for the association between days of cannabis use per month and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
A, CHD. B, MI. C, Stroke. D, Composite outcome of CHD, MI, and stroke. The OR and 95% CI show that the association is significant for every outcome except CHD. CHD indicates coronary heart disease; MI, myocardial infarction; and OR, odds ratio.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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