Cannabis Use Disorder may elevate Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adults

A recent study has revealed that adults diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) face a significantly higher risk of adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) events compared to those without this disorder. The relationship between CUD and CVD was found to be dose-dependent, with higher CUD severity associated with a greater risk of CVD.

This study was published in Addiction journal by Anees Bahji and colleagues. The association between cannabis use and adverse health outcomes has been a topic of growing concern. Recent research has suggested links between cannabis use and serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, and various heart conditions. To shed light on this relationship, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of cannabis use disorder (CUD) on cardiovascular disease risk in adults.

This study from Queen's University in Canada, examined data from a cohort of Canadian adults to evaluate the connection between CUD and cardiovascular outcomes. Participants diagnosed with CUD were matched with individuals without the disorder based on gender, birth year, and time of presentation. This matching process resulted in 29,764 pairs or 59,528 individual participants.

• The study observed that 2.4% of individuals with CUD experienced an adverse cardiovascular event, compared to 1.5% of those without the disorder. This indicated a 57% increased risk of CVD events associated with CUD.
  
• Importantly, the strength of the relationship between CUD and CVD risk was found to be dose-dependent. The risk was more pronounced as the severity of CUD increased:
• 32% increased risk for those with one CUD diagnostic code.
• 147% increased risk for those with two to four CUD diagnostic codes.
• 164% increased risk for those with five or more CUD diagnostic codes.