Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced In-Hospital Mortality in Heart Attack Patients
Heart attack victims with a history of cannabis use are less likely to die in the hospital as compared to those with no history of use, according to data published in the Archives of Medical Sciences: Atherosclerotic Disease.
A team of researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom assessed health outcomes in a cohort of nearly 10 million patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
They reported, “Cannabis use was associated with lower risks of cardiogenic shock, acute ischemic stroke, cardiac arrest, PCI [percutaneous coronary intervention]use, and in-hospital mortality.”
The conclusion is consistent with those of other studies finding that heart disease victims with a history of cannabis consumption possess greater in-hospital survival rates compared to controls. Other studies have similarly reported increased in-hospital survival rates among cannabis consumers suffering from cancer, COPD, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, HIV, burn-related injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and various other types of severe trauma.
The study’s authors concluded: “Among patients aged 18–80 years admitted to hospitals with AMI between 2001 and 2020 in the United States, cannabis use was associated with lower risks of complications, … as well as lower in-hospital mortality despite correcting for several confounding factors. This highlights how cannabis remains a poorly understood substance despite a relentless rise in consumption and social acceptance. Our study underscores the need for further research in the physiology and pharmacology of cannabinoids not only as potential therapeutic agents but also to provide the population with a more informed and nuanced understanding of the possible risks associated with cannabis consumption.”
Studies assessing the association between cannabis use and cardiovascular health have yielded inconsistent results, with some studies finding an increased risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases among marijuana consumers, while others report either no risk or provide evidence of possible cardioprotection.
Full text of the study, “Unmasking the cannabis paradox: In-hospital outcomes of cannabis users admitted with acute myocardial infarction over a 20-year period in the United States,” appears in the Archives of Medical Sciences: Atherosclerotic Disease.
Article from NORML
