A recent study has revealed that individuals under the age of 50 who use cannabis face a significantly higher risk of heart attacks, with the likelihood increasing sixfold.
Additionally, the research highlights an elevated risk of stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular-related fatalities among users. Previous studies have also drawn a link between daily marijuana consumption and coronary artery disease.
In Kenya, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to rise.
According to a report by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), an estimated 93,430 young people—equivalent to 2.7 percent—consume cannabis.
Meanwhile, data from the Ministry of Health indicates that NCDs account for half of all hospital admissions in the country.
Globally, cannabis remains the most widely cultivated, trafficked, and abused illicit drug.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that it accounts for nearly half of all drug seizures worldwide. The drug’s presence spans across almost every country, with approximately 147 million people—around 2.5 percent of the global population—using it annually.
This figure surpasses the estimated zero-point-two percent who consume cocaine or opiates. Recent trends indicate that cannabis use is rising at a faster rate than the abuse of these other substances.
The study, which examined data from more than 4.6 million people, was published in JACC Advances. It also incorporated a meta-analysis of 12 previous studies, making it one of the most comprehensive analyses on cannabis and cardiovascular health to date.
Findings from the study indicated that cannabis users faced significantly higher risks of adverse cardiovascular events over a follow-up period of more than 3 years.
Specifically, users were found to be more than six times as likely to experience a heart attack, four times more likely to suffer an ischaemic stroke, twice as likely to develop heart failure, and three times more likely to succumb to cardiovascular-related complications.
Dr Ibrahim Kamel, the study’s lead author and a clinical instructor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, stated that “clinicians should include cannabis use in their assessments of patients’ cardiovascular risk, just as they do with cigarette smoking.” He also called for policy measures to ensure that cannabis users are well-informed about the potential health risks.
Notably, participants in the study were all under 50 years old and had no prior history of cardiovascular conditions. Their blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels were within healthy ranges, and they had no prior record of smoking tobacco, diabetes, or coronary artery disease.
The meta-analysis incorporated data from 12 previously published studies, collectively covering more than 75 million people. Of these studies, ten were conducted in the United States, one in Canada, and another in India. While some studies did not specify the age of participants, those that did reported an average age of 41, meaning most of the sample comprised relatively young individuals.
Although the exact way cannabis affects the cardiovascular system remains unclear, researchers suggest that it may interfere with heart rhythm regulation, increase oxygen demand in the heart muscle, and contribute to endothelial dysfunction, impairing blood vessel relaxation and blood flow.
One of the studies included in the meta-analysis found that the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack peaked within an hour of consuming marijuana. When assessed individually, seven of the studies indicated a significant correlation between cannabis use and heart attack risk, four found no substantial link, and one showed a slight negative association. However, the collective analysis confirmed a strong link, with cannabis users being one-point-five times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-users.
Another study, presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in 2023, found that daily cannabis users had a 34 percent higher likelihood of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) than non-users.
Dr Ishan Paranjpe, a resident physician at Stanford University and the study’s lead researcher, utilised data from the All of Us Research Programme, which comprised over 175,000 participants. The study categorised them based on frequency of marijuana use: daily users, occasional users, and non-users.
After adjusting for various factors, including age, gender, and known cardiovascular risk determinants, the study found a significant connection between frequent cannabis use and increased CAD risk. Dr Paranjpe noted that their research suggests a dose-response relationship, meaning that higher cannabis consumption correlates with a greater risk of developing CAD.
The study also applied Mendelian randomisation analyses, which indicated a possible causal link between cannabis use disorder and CAD. Researchers emphasised the need for medical professionals to discuss marijuana use with their patients and consider its potential implications for heart health.
