Abstract
Background
Cannabis is associated with risk of acute coronary syndrome in observational studies.
However, its association with prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear.
We hypothesized that cannabis use is associated with prevalent CAD.
Methods
This analysis included 12,543 participants (age 39.3 ± 11.6 years, 48.8% male, 35.3%
Caucasians) from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Cannabis
use was self-reported. Prevalent CAD was defined by physician diagnosis. The association
between cannabis use and CAD was tested for using multivariable logistic regression.
Results
About 53.1% (n = 6,650) of participants were ever cannabis users and 1.1% (n = 137)
had prevalent CAD. Ever (versus never) cannabis users had 90% increased odds of CAD
[OR (95% CI): 1.90 (1.24 - 2.93), p = 0.003]. Those who had used cannabis at least
once per month for at least one year had 68% increased odds of CAD [OR (95% CI): 1.68
(1.02-2.77), p = 0.04]. Current cannabis users had near 98% increased odds of CAD
[OR (95% CI): 1.98 (1.11 – 3.54), p = 0.02]. Similar results were seen with heavy
cannabis users [OR (95% CI): 1.99 (1.02 – 3.89), p = 0.045]. These results were consistent
in subgroups stratified by race, gender, hypertension, obesity, COPD, hyperlipidemia,
tobacco smoking status, and diabetes.
Conclusions
Cannabis use is associated with prevalent CAD. This finding emphasizes the potential
harmful effects of cannabis use on cardiovascular health and highlights the need for
further research as it becomes more accepted at both a national and global level.
Key Indexing Terms
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 12, 2022
Accepted:
April 6,
2022
Received:
July 23,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
