A new study published in the journal Addiction has revealed that Canadian adults with cannabis use disorder may have a significantly higher risk of experiencing their first heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular event. The study, which examined the association between problematic marijuana use and adverse cardiovascular disease events, found that those with cannabis use disorder had a 60% higher risk compared to those without the disorder.
To conduct the study, researchers analyzed data from five Canadian health databases, creating a cohort of approximately 60,000 participants, half of whom had been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder and half without. The participants were tracked from January 2012 to December 2019, excluding individuals with prior adverse cardiovascular disease events.
Among the group with cannabis use disorder, 2.4% (721) experienced a cardiovascular disease event for the first time, while only 1.5% (458) in the unexposed group did. Interestingly, within the cannabis use disorder group, individuals without co-occurring medical illnesses, no prescriptions, and fewer than five visits to health services in the last six months had an even higher risk of a first-time cardiovascular disease event.
The lead author of the study highlighted the significance of these findings for both public health and clinical practice. While the study does not prove causation, it suggests a higher risk of cardiovascular disease among Canadians with cannabis use disorder.
This study adds to the ongoing discussion surrounding the health implications of cannabis use disorder and its potential links to cardiovascular health. As cannabis becomes more widely legalized and used, understanding these health risks becomes increasingly important. The findings underscore the need for further research in this area and for healthcare providers to be aware of the potential cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis use disorder.
For more information on this study and its implications for public health, please visit Swerd Media’s website.
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