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Association Between Lifetime Hallucinogen Use and Valvular Heart Disease: Findings from the All of Us Research

Kevin H Yang1, Miranda Rasmussen1, Kush Bhatt1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
|May 19, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Lifetime hallucinogen use, including LSD and psilocybin, was linked to a modest increase in valvular heart disease (VHD) odds in US adults. Further longitudinal research is needed to confirm this association between hallucinogens and VHD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Emerging evidence suggests hallucinogen use may be associated with valvular heart disease (VHD) due to serotonin 5-HT2B receptor activation, potentially causing valvular fibrosis.
  • Existing epidemiological data on the association between hallucinogen use and VHD is limited, necessitating further investigation.
  • Previous research has linked valvular fibrosis to medications like fenfluramine and pergolide, highlighting the potential cardiovascular risks of certain drug classes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between lifetime hallucinogen use and the prevalence of valvular heart disease (VHD) in a large US adult population.
  • To investigate potential links between various hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, PCP) and VHD using electronic health record data.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of data from 286,842 US adults in the NIH All of Us Research Program.
  • Utilized self-reported lifetime hallucinogen use from the Lifestyle survey and linked electronic health records for VHD diagnosis.
  • Employed multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between hallucinogen use and VHD, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities.

Main Results:

  • The study sample included 13.2% of participants reporting lifetime hallucinogen use.
  • Unadjusted analysis showed lower VHD prevalence in hallucinogen users (3.6%) compared to non-users (4.7%).
  • After adjusting for confounders, lifetime hallucinogen use was associated with modestly increased odds of VHD (aOR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.55).

Conclusions:

  • This exploratory study suggests a modest association between lifetime hallucinogen use and increased odds of valvular heart disease (VHD) in US adults.
  • The findings highlight the need for further longitudinal research to confirm the relationship between hallucinogen exposure and VHD development.
  • Continued investigation into the cardiovascular effects of hallucinogens is warranted, particularly concerning valvular integrity.

Keywords:
All of Us Research ProgramLSDMDMAhallucinogenpsilocybinvalvular heart disease

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