Regular Marijuana Use Increases Heart Failure Risk, Study Shows

Two recently conducted studies have revealed a potential link between habitual marijuana usage and a heightened risk of heart attacks or heart failure, especially among the elderly. These studies are scheduled to be unveiled at the forthcoming Scientific Sessions 2023 of the American Heart Association, which will take place in Philadelphia.

What Happened: A report by The Hill details the first study, which observed 156,999 participants over a four-year period. All participants were heart failure-free at the start of the study and had disclosed their marijuana usage. According to the research, individuals who regularly use marijuana have a 34 percent increased likelihood of experiencing heart failure when compared to those who do not use the substance. By the study’s conclusion, approximately 2 percent, or 2,958 participants, had developed heart failure.

Once adjustments were made for coronary artery disease, the risk decreased to 27 percent, indicating that coronary artery disease may be a potential mechanism by which daily marijuana use contributes to heart failure. The study, however, did not detail the specific method of marijuana consumption.

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“Our study provides more data linking marijuana use to cardiovascular conditions," noted Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, the lead study author and a resident physician at MedStar Health in Baltimore.

A secondary study examined data from the 2019 National Inpatient Sample, focusing on adults above 65 years old with cardiovascular risk factors. The research revealed that individuals who used marijuana had a 20 percent increased likelihood of encountering a significant cardiac or cerebral event while hospitalized.

Avilash Mondal, the lead author of the second study and a resident physician at Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia, urged healthcare professionals to inquire about marijuana use when taking a patient's medical history. "The main public message is to be more aware of the increased risks and open the lines of communication so that cannabis use is acknowledged and considered,” Mondal stated.

Why It Matters: These findings add to the growing body of research regarding the potential cardiovascular risks associated with marijuana use.

A study in 2022 disclosed a 74% increased risk of heart rhythm disorders in medical marijuana users. Similarly, a Canadian study in 2023 linked heavy cannabis use to increased cardiovascular issues.

However, Florida International University researchers studied 57,000 adults to investigate cannabis and cardiovascular disease, noting a potential decrease in cardiovascular events with marijuana use (Odds Ratio: 0.74). Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm this association.

Photo by Kimzy Nanney on Unsplash

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