Cannabis use is associated with prevalent coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is associated with risk of acute coronary syndrome in observational studies. However, its association with prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear. We hypothesized that cannabis use is associated with prevalent CAD. METHODS: This analysis included 12,543 participants (age 39.3 ± 11.6 years, 48.8% male, 35.3% Caucasians) from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Cannabis use was self-reported. Prevalent CAD was defined by physician diagnosis. The association between cannabis use and CAD was tested for using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: About 53.1% (n = 6,650) of participants were ever cannabis users and 1.1% (n = 137) had prevalent CAD. Ever (versus never) cannabis users had 90% increased odds of CAD [OR (95% CI): 1.90 (1.24 - 2.93), p = 0.003]. Those who had used cannabis at least once per month for at least one year had 68% increased odds of CAD [OR (95% CI): 1.68 (1.02-2.77), p = 0.04]. Current cannabis users had near 98% increased odds of CAD [OR (95% CI): 1.98 (1.11 - 3.54), p = 0.02]. Similar results were seen with heavy cannabis users [OR (95% CI): 1.99 (1.02 - 3.89), p = 0.045]. These results were consistent in subgroups stratified by race, gender, hypertension, obesity, COPD, hyperlipidemia, tobacco smoking status, and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis use is associated with prevalent CAD. This finding emphasizes the potential harmful effects of cannabis use on cardiovascular health and highlights the need for further research as it becomes more accepted at both a national and global level.

Relation of Cannabis Use to Elevated Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score.

We hypothesized that cannabis use is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This could explain the reported link between cannabis and cardiovascular events including stroke and myocardial infarction. This analysis included 7,159 participants (age 37.8 ± 12.4 years, 48.6% men, and 61.5% Caucasian) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey years 2011 to 2018. Cannabis use was defined by self-report. Participants with a history of stroke or myocardial infarction were excluded. Composite CVD risk was assessed using the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk (ASCVD) score. Participants were classified based on their ASCVD risk levels as low (<5.0%), borderline (5.0% to 7.4%), intermediate (7.5% to 19.9%), and high (≥20.0%). Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between cannabis use and ASCVD risk category using low-risk ASCVD category as the reference level. About 63.9% (n = 4,573) of participants had ever used cannabis. Ever cannabis use was associated with 60% increased odds of high-risk ASCVD score (odds ratio [OR] 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.60 [1.04 to 2.45], p = 0.03). We also observed a dose-response relation between increased use of cannabis and a higher risk of ASCVD. Those reporting ≥2 uses per month had 79% increased odds of high-risk ASCVD score (OR [95% CI] 1.79 [1.10 to 2.92], p = 0.02) and those reporting ≥1 use per day had 87% increased odds of high-risk ASCVD score (OR [95% CI] 1.87 [1.16 to 3.01], p <0.001]. In conclusion, cannabis use is associated with elevated CVD risk. Individuals using cannabis should be screened for CVD risk, and appropriate risk reduction strategies should be implemented.

Exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with increased left ventricular mass.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hypertension is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. Recent evidence suggests that secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with chronic hypertension, so we sought to examine the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and electrocardiographic left ventricular (LV) mass among non-smokers. METHODS: This analysis included 4982 non-smoker participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES-III). Non-smoking was defined by self-report and serum cotinine ≤10 ng/mL, a biomarker for tobacco exposure. SHS exposure was defined as serum cotinine level ≥1 ng/mL. LV mass was estimated using an electrocardiographic model developed and applied in NHANES-III then validated in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the cross-sectional association between SHS exposure (vs no exposure) with estimated LV mass index. In similar models, we also examined the associations of LV mass index across quartiles of serum cotinine (reference group, 1st quartile) and in subgroups stratified by age, race, sex, hypertension, and obesity. RESULTS: About 9.8% (n=489) of the participants were exposed to SHS. Exposure to SHS was associated with an estimated 2.9 g/m2 increase in LV mass index, with a dose-response relationship between higher serum cotinine and LV mass index. These results were consistent in men and women, Whites and non-Whites, elderly and non-elderly, and those with and without hypertension. Significant effect modification was present among obese individuals with an estimated 4.8 g/m2 increase in LV mass index (interaction p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In a racially diverse sample of non-smokers, SHS is associated with increased LV mass with a dose-response relationship between level of exposure and LV mass. Effect modification was present among obese individuals. These findings underscore the harmful effect of passive smoking on the cardiovascular system and highlight the need for more restrictions on smoking in public areas, especially in countries or regions with less-stringent public health policies.

Cannabis Use and Electrocardiographic Myocardial Injury.

Multiple observational studies have demonstrated an association with cannabis use and acute myocardial infarction, especially among young adults. However, little is known about the connection with subclinical or electrocardiographic myocardial injury. We hypothesized that cannabis use would be associated with an increased risk of myocardial injury as defined by the cardiac infarction and/or injury score (CIIS). This analysis included 3,634 (age 48.0 ± 5.9 years, 47.1% male, 68.7% Caucasians) participants from the Third National Health and Examination Survey. Cannabis use was defined by self-report. Those with history of cardiovascular disease were excluded. Myocardial injury was defined as electrocardiographic CIIS ≥ 10. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between cannabis use and myocardial injury. The consistency of this association was tested among subgroups stratified by race, gender, tobacco smoking status, and comorbidities. About 26.0% (n = 900) of participants were ever-cannabis users and 15.5% (n = 538) had myocardial injury. In a model adjusted for potential confounders, ever-cannabis users had 43% increased odds of myocardial injury compared to never users (Odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.43 (1.14, 1.80); p = 0.002). This association was stronger among participants with a history of hypertension versus those without (Odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.83 (1.36, 2.47) vs 1.17 (0.83, 1.64), respectively; interaction p value 0.04). Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of myocardial injury among those without cardiovascular disease with effect modification by co-existent hypertension. These novel findings underscore the harmful effects of cannabis use on cardiovascular health and also merit a personalized risk assessment when counseling patients with hypertension on its use.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure and hypertension: nearly as large as smoking.

: Active smoking is a widely accepted risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is recognized as a major public health problem. Passive smoking, also known as secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE), is thought to have similar cardiovascular consequences and the risk has been postulated to be equivalent to that of active smoking. A major component of this risk involves the connection with chronic hypertension. There are several population-based observational studies investigating the relationship between SHSE and chronic hypertension, all of which demonstrate a positive association. Given that SHSE appears to be a risk factor for chronic hypertension, SHSE should also be a risk factor for hypertensive end-organ disease. Many studies have sought to investigate this relationship, but this has yet to be fully elucidated. In this review, we focus on the current evidence regarding the association between SHSE and hypertension as well as exploration of the links between SHSE and hypertensive end-organ damage.

A plasma cell-based pericardial effusion leading to tamponade in a patient with multiple myeloma - a case report and review of the literature.

A rare case of extramedullary multiple myeloma causing cardiac tamponade secondary to a plasma cell-based pericardial effusion is described. A systematic search using PubMed (National Library of Medicine) was used to identify a further 27 cases dating back to 1970. Case characteristics, treatment strategies, and survival time following tamponade are discussed. Linear regression demonstrated a weak but statistically significant correlation between survival time following tamponade and treatment with systemic chemotherapy and steroids (ß=16.8 weeks, P=.009). However, this manifestation of extramedullary multiple myeloma still conveys a dismal prognosis with a median survival following tamponade of only 6 weeks based on our review.