A recent study analyzing hospital data reveals that elderly non-smokers who use cannabis are at an increased risk of major heart and brain events.
This finding is critical as cannabis use is rising among older adults in the U.S., necessitating a deeper understanding of its potential cardiovascular risks.
Led by Dr. Avilash Mondal of Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, the study focused on adults over 65 with cardiovascular risk factors but no tobacco use.
The research uniquely isolated cannabis effects from tobacco, allowing for a clearer examination of cannabis-related cardiovascular outcomes.
The study involved analyzing records from the 2019 National Inpatient Sample, dividing them into two groups: cannabis users and non-users.
Key Findings
The study, which included 28,535 cannabis users, found:
A 20% higher chance of experiencing major heart or brain events during hospitalization among cannabis users compared to non-users.
13.9% of cannabis users had significant adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events compared to their counterparts.
Cannabis users had higher rates of heart attacks and were more likely to be transferred to other facilities.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol were major predictors of adverse events in cannabis users.
Implications and Recommendations
These findings highlight the importance of being aware of the increased risks associated with cannabis use in older adults.
Health care professionals are encouraged to include questions about cannabis use in patient history to acknowledge and consider its effects.
While the study offers significant insights, it has limitations due to its reliance on a large database, which may contain coding errors in health records.
Additionally, inconsistencies in the electronic health record code for cannabis use disorder across different hospitals could affect the results.
Broader Perspective
The study aligns with the American Heart Association’s 2020 statement on cannabis health risks, which noted similar cardiovascular concerns linked to smoking and inhaling cannabis.
These two research studies collectively underline the growing clarity around the cardiovascular risks of cannabis use, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and monitoring by health care professionals and the public.
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