Cardiovascular Risks Associated With Cannabis Use Among ED Patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) affects many adults, but its link to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is debated.
• Existing research on cannabis and CVD yields inconsistent results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between CUD and CVD outcomes in emergency department (ED) patients.
• To compare CVD risks in CUD patients versus those without CUD and those with alcohol-related disorders (ARD).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 67 US healthcare organizations (TriNetX database, 2005-2022).
• Propensity-matched comparison of adult ED patients with and without CUD.
• Outcomes assessed: all-cause mortality, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) within three years post-ED visit.

Main Results:

• Patients with CUD showed significantly higher rates of mortality (RR 1.69) and MI (RR 1.07) compared to non-CUD patients.
• No significant difference in stroke rates was observed between CUD and non-CUD groups.
• In secondary analysis, CUD patients had lower mortality but higher stroke and MI rates than ARD patients.

Conclusions:

• Cannabis use is associated with increased risks of mortality and MI within three years of an ED visit.
• Findings contribute to understanding the cardiovascular impact of cannabis.
• Results may inform public health policy and clinical practice regarding CUD management.