Cannabis use was associated with up to 87% higher cardiovascular disease risk scores
In a study of 7,159 adults from the NHANES survey, cannabis use was associated with 60% higher odds of a high cardiovascular risk score, with a dose-response relationship reaching 87% for daily users.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Ever cannabis use was associated with 60% increased odds of a high-risk ASCVD score. A dose-response relationship was observed: those using 2+ times per month had 79% increased odds, and daily users had 87% increased odds of high-risk scores.
Key Numbers
7,159 participants. 63.9% had ever used cannabis. Ever use: OR 1.60 for high ASCVD risk. 2+ uses/month: OR 1.79. Daily use: OR 1.87. All comparisons used low-risk ASCVD as reference.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of 7,159 participants (mean age 37.8, 48.6% men, 61.5% Caucasian) from NHANES 2011-2018. Cannabis use defined by self-report. CVD risk assessed using the ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk score. Participants with prior stroke or MI excluded.
Why This Research Matters
This large, nationally representative dataset shows a dose-dependent association between cannabis use and cardiovascular risk, adding to growing evidence that cannabis may not be as cardiovascularly benign as often assumed.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis use increases across the population, understanding its cardiovascular implications becomes increasingly important for public health messaging and clinical screening.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot prove causation. Cannabis use was self-reported. The ASCVD score is a composite measure, so it is unclear which specific risk factors drive the association. Confounders like tobacco co-use were not fully addressed.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which specific cardiovascular risk factors are most affected by cannabis use?
- ?Does the method of consumption (smoking vs edibles) matter?
- ?Would the association persist after fully accounting for tobacco co-use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Daily cannabis users had 87% higher odds of high cardiovascular risk
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large nationally representative sample with validated risk score, but cross-sectional design and self-reported cannabis use.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Relation of Cannabis Use to Elevated Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score.
- Published In:
- The American journal of cardiology, 165, 46-50 (2022)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04231
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis directly cause heart disease?
This study found an association, not causation. Cannabis use was linked to higher cardiovascular risk scores, but the cross-sectional design cannot determine whether cannabis directly causes the elevated risk.
What is the ASCVD risk score?
The ACC/AHA 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score estimates the probability of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years based on factors like age, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.
Was there a dose-response relationship?
Yes. Risk increased with frequency of use: ever use (60% higher odds), 2+ times per month (79%), and daily use (87%).
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04231APA
Skipina, Travis M; Patel, Nikhil; Upadhya, Bharathi; Soliman, Elsayed Z. (2022). Relation of Cannabis Use to Elevated Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score.. The American journal of cardiology, 165, 46-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.10.051
MLA
Skipina, Travis M, et al. "Relation of Cannabis Use to Elevated Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score.." The American journal of cardiology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.10.051
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Relation of Cannabis Use to Elevated Atherosclerotic Cardiov..." RTHC-04231. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/skipina-2022-relation-of-cannabis-use
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.