Ventricular Repolarization in Healthy Young Adults Who Use Combusted Cannabis: A Cross-Sectional Parallel Group...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pulmonology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Emerging trends of inhaled combusted cannabis and electronic cigarette (ECIG) co-use among young adults.
• Unclear cardiovascular disease risks, specifically arrhythmia risk, associated with these substances.
• Need to understand if cannabis use increases cardiovascular risk and if ECIG co-use amplifies this risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine cardiovascular disease risks associated with combusted cannabis use.
• To assess if co-use of combusted cannabis and nicotine ECIGs alters ventricular repolarization.
• To determine if ECIG co-use amplifies cannabis-related cardiovascular risks.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study comparing three groups: healthy adults (21-30 years) using combusted cannabis only, co-using cannabis and nicotine ECIGs, and non-users (controls).
• Primary outcomes: Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc assessed via 5-minute ECG recordings.
• Secondary outcomes: resting hemodynamic parameters and heart rate variability.

Main Results:

• 134 participants enrolled: 59 cannabis users, 26 cannabis/ECIG co-users, 49 controls. Demographics were similar across groups.
• No significant difference in Tp-e interval between combusted cannabis users and controls at rest.
• Significantly shorter Tp-e interval observed in the cannabis/ECIG co-use group compared to both cannabis-only and control groups.

Conclusions:

• Chronic co-use of inhaled combusted cannabis and nicotine ECIGs is associated with ventricular repolarization alterations (shortened Tp-e) in healthy young adults.
• Exclusive combusted cannabis use was not associated with significant changes in ventricular repolarization.
• Further investigation is warranted to understand the implications of shortened ventricular repolarization in individuals co-using nicotine ECIGs and combusted cannabis.