In a new study, researchers found a possible link between cannabis use and structural changes to the heart.
They say regular cannabis use could affect the structure and function of the heart
The research was conducted by a team at the Queen Mary University of London and elsewhere.
Analyzing MRI images from the UK Biobank population study, the team identified an association between regular cannabis use and an enlarged left ventricle—the heart’s main pumping chamber—together with early signs of impairment of heart function.
The team analyzed cardiac scans for 3,407 individuals with an average age of 62 who did not have cardiovascular disease.
Most (3,255) rarely or never used cannabis, 105 had used it regularly but more than five years before they were interviewed and 47 were current regular users.
The researchers found the latter group was more likely to have larger left ventricles and show early signs of impaired heart function, measured by how the heart muscle fibers deform during contraction.
However, there appeared to be no difference between the three groups in the overall mass of the left ventricle or the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat.
No changes were identified in the size and function of the other three chambers of the heart.
The analysis also found that people who had used cannabis regularly but given up had similar heart size and function to those who had rarely or never taken the drug.
The team says more research is needed to identify the long-term implications of regular use of cannabis on the heart and blood vessels.
This is the first study to systematically report changes in heart structure and function associated with recreational cannabis using cardiac MRI, a very sensitive imaging tool and the current reference standard for assessing cardiac chambers.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Mohammed Khanji, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary.
The study is published in JACC Cardiovascular Imaging.
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