Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Cannabis for chronic pain: cardiovascular safety in a nationwide Danish study
- Matched cohort study
- nationwide registers
Authors' conclusion
In patients with chronic pain, the use of prescribed medical cannabis was associated with an elevated risk of new-onset arrhythmia compared with no use-most pronounced in the 180 days following the initiation of treatment.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with chronic pain, nationwide Danish registersmatched cohort
- Participants
- 5,391 vs 26,941
- Exposure
- Medical cannabis vs no use
- Medical cannabisn = 5,391
- Controln = 26,941reference
- Outcome
- First-time arrhythmia (AF/flutter, conduction disorders, paroxysmal tachycardias, ventricular arrhythmias) and ACS
Main finding
New-onset arrhythmia · 180 days
Risk ratio
2.07
95% CI 1.34–2.80
Events by group
Medical cannabis vs Control
risk ratio 2.07 (95% CI 1.34–2.80)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | risk ratio (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| New-onset arrhythmia · 1 year · matched cohort | 1.36 (1.00–1.73) | |
| 0.512Risk ratio (log scale) |
ACS · 180 days
- No significant association for ACS; 180-day risk ratio
- 1.20 (0.35-2.04) (95% CI)
- matched cohort
Original publication
Cannabis for chronic pain: cardiovascular safety in a nationwide Danish study. Eur Heart J. Published 11 January 2024. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehad834
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it