The association between regular cannabis use, with and without tobacco co-use, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes: Cannabis may have a greater impact in non-tobacco smokers.

This study, part of CTN-0053, evaluated the associations between regular cannabis use, with and without tobacco co-use, and cardiovascular outcomes.

Using electronic health records, control patients, with no cannabis-use-documentation, were matched to the cannabis-using patients on demographics, residential zip code median income, body mass index, and, for the total sample, tobacco use disorder (TUD) status. Outcomes were encounter diagnosis (yes/no) of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), heart arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and all-cause mortality.

TUD-patients had the greatest prevalence of cardiovascular disease, regardless of cannabis-use indication. In the total sample and non-TUD subgroup, regular cannabis use was significantly associated with greater risk for CVA, arrhythmia, SAH, and mortality. In the TUD subgroup, regular cannabis use was significantly associated with greater risk for arrhythmia and SAH.

Conclusions: Cannabis use is associated with significantly greater risk of adverse cardiovascular diagnoses and overall death, particularly in non-tobacco users.

Related protocols: CTN-0053