Cannabis raises risk of deadly heart problems by three-quarters, study finds
CANNABIS raises the risk of deadly heart problems by three-quarters, a major study suggests.
Danish researchers analysed data on 1.6 million patients suffering from chronic pain.
Nearly 5,000 were prescribed cannabis to help them deal with their condition.
After a three-year follow up, scientists found those given the drug were 74 per cent more likely to develop an arrhythmia or heart rhythm problems.
Sufferers are at greater risk of strokes or sudden cardiac death.
Researcher medical cannabis users were also found to be more likely to be taking painkillers or anti-epilepsy drugs, which might explain the increased likelihood of heartbeat problems.
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The findings will be presented to the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Barcelona this weekend.
Dr Nina Nouhravesh, from Gentofte University Hospital in Denmark, said: “Our study found that medical cannabis users had a 74 per cent higher risk of heart rhythm disorders compared with non-users; however, the absolute risk difference was modest.
“It should be noted that a higher proportion of those in the cannabis group were taking other pain medications, namely non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and anti-epileptics, and we cannot rule out that this might explain the greater likelihood of arrhythmias.”
She added: “Since medical cannabis is a relatively new drug for a large market of patients with chronic pain, it is important to investigate and report serious side effects.
“This study indicates that there may be a previously unreported risk of arrhythmias following medical cannabis use.”
Denmark approved medical cannabis for use in trials in 2018, allowing doctors to prescribe it for chronic pain.
Two products also became available on the NHS in 2019, but uptake has been limited.
Professor James Leiper, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Prescription of medicinal cannabis to treat chronic pain has become more widespread in recent years.
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“This study suggests that using cannabis in this controlled way to relieve pain might have a negative impact on the heart.
“However, more research will be required to determine if medicinal cannabis itself, or other drugs that patients who are prescribed medicinal cannabis take, are responsible for the association with an increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms.”