Cataryna Senra
University of Miami
Co-Authors: Amrit Baral1, Bria-Necole Diggs1, Ranya Marrakchi El Fellah1, Kylee Krivijanski1, Claudia Martinez1, Denise C Vidot1
1University of Miami
Background: Cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death in the US, is closely linked to abnormal blood pressure. However, the impact of cannabis use on cardiovascular health across different demographics remains unclear, with limited research on how age and frequency of use influence blood pressure. Therefore, this study examines the age-group differences in blood pressure measurements among low, moderate, and heavy cannabis users.
Objective: To examine age-group differences in objectively measured abnormal blood pressure among low-to-moderate and heavy cannabis consumers in the Herbal Heart Study cohort.
Methods: Data are from the baseline assessment of the ongoing cohort study of 18-to-35-year-olds to examine differences in subclinical cardiovascular disease risk. Cannabis use was urine-confirmed; frequency of use was self-reported within the Drug Use History Questionnaire. Blood pressure (BP) was ascertained in triplicate following American Heart Association standardized guidelines. Abnormal BP was identified using standardized cut off: ≥130mmHg systolic/≥85mmHg diastolic. Chi-squared tests were employed to compare abnormal blood pressure in two groups and by frequency of consumption among cannabis users.
Results: The sample included 200 adults [mean age: 25.2y; SD(4.8)] of which 63.0% were current (past 30-days) cannabis consumers. Adults 27-to-35y had a higher prevalence (73.1%) of cannabis use than the 57.9% of 18-to-26y consumers (p=0.0351). Among the 21.5% of the sample with abnormal BP, 81.4% were cannabis consumers, 18.6% were non-consumers (p=0.0048). Majority of cannabis consumers with abnormal blood pressure were heavy cannabis consumers (88.6%, p=0.0255). Heavy cannabis consumption (use >21 days/month) was more prevalent among participants 27-to-35y (85.7%) than 18-to-26y (67.5%, p=0.0223). Cannabis consumers had a higher median systolic BP compared to non-consumers (p<.0001). Median diastolic BP was also higher among cannabis consumers (p=0.0014). Heavy consumers had a higher median systolic (120.3mmHg vs 112.0mmHg, p=0.0064) and diastolic (67.6mmHg vs 64.6mmHg, p=0.0398) BP than those consuming < 21 days/month. Heavy cannabis consumers had a higher odds of presenting with abnormal BP than non-consumers (AOR: 3.49, 95% CI: 1.47-8.31), adjusted by age-group.
Conclusions: Findings suggest heavy cannabis use is associated with increased systolic and diastolic BP. Heavy cannabis consumers had greater odds of abnormal BP than non-consumers. Results emphasize the need for further research on cannabis use and its impact on cardiovascular health across various age groups.