Marijuana users with a cardiac arrhythmia are much more likely to die when hospitalized, according to new data presented at EHRA 2021, a virtual scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
“People should be aware of this devastating outcome and be careful when using cannabis if they have a concomitant heart problem,” study author Sittinun Thangjui, MD, of Bassett Healthcare Network in Cooperstown, New York, said in a statement from the ESC.
The analysis included more than 2.4 million adult marijuana users who were a part of the National Inpatient Sample database. The average patient age was 50.5 years old. According to the data, 7.6% of patients had an arrhythmia. The most common arrhythmias were atrial fibrillation, an abnormally slow heart rate and an abnormally fast heart rate.
Overall, after making adjustments for age, obesity and other potential risk factors, the team found that in-hospital mortality was more than four times as likely for marijuana users with an arrhythmia than it was for patients without an arrhythmia. Patients in the arrhythmia group also had longer lengths of stay (5.7 days vs. 5.1 days).
“More studies are needed to confirm our results,” Thangjui said in the same statement. “In the meantime, it seems sensible to screen these patients for arrhythmias if they present to hospital so that those with a heart rhythm problem can be closely monitored.”
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.