Relation of Cannabis Use to Elevated Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score

Drugs of Misuse: Focus on Vascular Dysfunction

“…35 Interestingly, a very recent report found that cannabis use was directly related to an elevated American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score. 36 Those investigators concluded that at the very least, people who use cannabis should be screened for traditional cardiac risk factors and risk reduction strategies implemented. 36 Although large epidemiologic studies have been unable to answer the question of cannabis use and future cardiovascular risk with certainty, there is certainly biological plausibility that cannabis usedespecially combusted cannabis usedcould lead to accelerated atherosclerosis.…”

“…36 Those investigators concluded that at the very least, people who use cannabis should be screened for traditional cardiac risk factors and risk reduction strategies implemented. 36 Although large epidemiologic studies have been unable to answer the question of cannabis use and future cardiovascular risk with certainty, there is certainly biological plausibility that cannabis usedespecially combusted cannabis usedcould lead to accelerated atherosclerosis. Cannabis smoke consists of largely the same constituents as tobacco smokedexcept, of course, it does not contain nicotine but contains cannabinoids.…”

Hypertensive Crisis-Related Hospitalizations and Subsequent Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Young Adults with Cannabis Use Disorder: A Nationwide Analysis

“…Our propensity-score matched analysis showed a higher rate of comorbidities such as prior myocardial infarction, chronic pulmonary, liver disease, depression, and psychosis in HC + CUD+ admissions. Cannabis usage was linked to the prevalence of coronary artery disease, after accounting for established cardiovascular disease risk variables, in a national survey (2011–2018) [ 19 ]. Recent studies show that CUD+ is associated with depression, especially in young men during adolescence, while the depression is stronger in women during midlife [ 20 ]; serotonin may mediate a potential genetic correlation between CUD+ and major depression [ 21 ].…”

Association between lifetime cannabis use and arterial stiffness in a middle-aged general population

“…Peripheral vascular disease associated with cannabis use remain poorly investigated, whereas a possible synergistic interaction between tobacco and cannabis use could be highlight and that can contribute to the development of peripheral nonatheromatous arteriopathy [22]. To date, very few studies have investigated the effects of cannabis on cardiovascular risk factors, such as atherosclerosis [23].…”