Changing legislation on cannabis worldwide has corresponded with increased cannabis use. Previous studies have indicated that cannabis use is linked to an increased risk of certain health conditions like coronary artery disease. Until now however, few studies have investigated how consuming cannabis affects outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
In the current study, researchers analyzed data from over 9.93 million patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of AMI between 2001 and 2020. Patients were aged between 18 and 80 years old, and 1.2%, or 117, 641, reported cannabis use.
Ultimately, the researchers found that cannabis users had a lower likelihood of atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, cardiogenic shock, acute ischaemic stroke, cardiac arrest, history of percutaneous coronary intervention, using intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), and all-cause mortality than non-users. They also had higher odds of supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, history of coronary artery bypass grafting, and acute kidney injury.
The researchers noted that the fact that cannabis users were younger than non-users partially explains the differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. They noted, however, that even after propensity matching and adjusting for potential confounders, cannabis use continued to be linked to a ‘survival benefit’ in AMI.
“This highlights how cannabis remains a poorly understood substance despite a relentless rise in consumption and social acceptance. Our study underscores the need for further research in the physiology and pharmacology of cannabinoids not only as potential therapeutic agents but also to provide the population with a more informed and nuanced understanding of the possible risks associated with cannabis consumption,” wrote the researchers in their study.
The study has limitations as it was conducted in a retrospective manner and may suffer from underreporting of cannabis use due to potential stigmatization. The researchers were also unable to determine the relationship between time or amount of cannabis consumed with AMI.
Sources: Archives of Medical Science Atherosclerotic Diseases