Relationship Between Marijuana Use and Hospitalization for Acute Coronary Syndrome

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2022 Apr 25

PMID 35464549

Authors

Niraj Karki

Binita Sapkota

Swosti R Magar

Ameen Muhammad

Bishow M Paudel

Peter Chernek

Maryam Afshar

Manoj Bhandari

Jonathan N Bella

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Recreational marijuana use is rising, especially among young adults. The cardiovascular (CVD) effect of marijuana remains mostly unknown.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 14,490 patients admitted to our hospital between 2012 and 2014 who had urine toxicology done for various reasons. Patients with a primary diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were queried in both the marijuana-positive group (n = 59) and the marijuana-negative group (n = 195). The risks of having ACS were compared in both groups.

Results: There was no difference in the risk of having ACS between the two groups in the population < 54 years of age (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.67-1.20, p = 0.48). However, there was a significant difference in the risk of having ACS in the 18-36 age group (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.14-7.07, p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis performed to adjust for the potential confounding effects of smoking and cocaine use showed that marijuana use (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.68-1.25, p = 0.65) did not increase the likelihood of ACS for patients ≤ 54 years or for those in the 37-54 age group (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.79-1.53, p = 0.50). However, among the 18-36 age bracket, marijuana use was independently associated with a higher risk of ACS (OR: 5.24, 95% CI: 1.84-16.93, p = 0.002).

Conclusion: In younger patients (age 18-36 years), marijuana use is independently associated with a five-fold higher risk of ACS.

Citing Articles

Cannabis Use Variations and Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review.

van Amsterdam J, van den Brink W J Clin Med. 2024; 13(18).

PMID: 39337107 PMC: 11433637. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13185620.

Cannabis and adverse cardiovascular events: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Theerasuwipakorn N, Prechawat S, Chokesuwattanaskul R, Siranart N, Marsukjai A, Thumtecho S Toxicol Rep. 2023; 10:537-543.

PMID: 37168078 PMC: 10165401. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.04.011.

A Literature Review of Cannabis and Myocardial Infarction-What Clinicians May Not Be Aware Of.

Chetty K, Lavoie A, Deghani P CJC Open. 2021; 3(1):12-21.

PMID: 33458628 PMC: 7801213. DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2020.09.001.

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