Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Incidence of new-onset cardiac arrhythmias in cocaine and cannabis users: a retrospective cohort study
- retrospective cohort study
- propensity score matching
- TriNetX database
Authors' conclusion
Cocaine users experience significantly higher rates of new-onset cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MI and stroke) compared with cannabis users. These findings highlight the differing outcomes associated with substance use. Future research should aim to validate our findings through prospective, multicentre studies with standardized diagnostic methods as well as longer-term follow-up to more accurately define the outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Cocaine and cannabis user patients in the TriNetX databasepatients included in each cohort after matching
- Participants
- 248,769 participants
- Exposure
- cocaine group compared with the cannabis group
- cocainen = 248,769
- cannabisn = 248,769reference
- Outcome
- incidence of new-onset cardiac arrhythmia
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
1.067
95% CI 1.022–1.115
P < 0.035
By group
cocaine vs cannabis
HR 1.067 (95% CI 1.022–1.115); P < 0.035
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| cardiac arrest · secondary outcome | 1.442 (1.346–1.545) | P < 0.001 | |
| all-cause mortality · secondary outcome | 1.215 (1.187–1.243) | P < 0.013 | |
| major adverse cardiovascular events (MI and stroke) · secondary outcome | 1.147 (1.116–1.178) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Incidence of new-onset cardiac arrhythmias in cocaine and cannabis users: a retrospective cohort study. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. Published 5 February 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjacc/zuag011
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it