Consistent cannabis use linked to multiple cardiovascular risks for heart failure patients
Heart failure patients who use too much cannabis face a much higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or other significant cardiovascular complications, according to new data presented at SCAI 2025 Scientific Sessions, the annual meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).
Researchers explored National Inpatient Sample data from 2016 to 2020, focusing on more than 1.3 million patients admitted to a hospital for heart failure. Cannabis use disorder (CUD), a condition defined as continuing to use cannabis despite the fact that it is causing harm to your day-to-day life, was reported in 1.4% of those patients.
Lead author Syed Ishaq, MD, internal medicine resident at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, presented his team’s findings. Overall, heart failure patients with CUD were 27% more likely to experience cardiogenic shock, 50% to experience an acute myocardial infarction, and 48% more likely to experience an arrhythmia.
However, the data included a substantial surprise: CUD patients were associated with significantly lower odds of death or respiratory failure.
“We were surprised to discover individuals with cannabis use disorder and heart failure are at a lower risk of mortality than those without the disorder,” Ishaq said in a statement. “However, despite a lower chance of death, they are at significantly greater odds of developing other related cardiovascular conditions like heart attack or irregular heartbeat. This understanding is necessary for doctors and public health professionals to warn individuals of the potential side effects of consistent cannabis use from the start, even before heart failure occurs.”
Additional details about the session are available here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.