Various products based on CBD, i.e. cannabis, are becoming more and more popular. Its consumption is legal in some countries. While in India, CBD products can also be used as medicine on the advice of a doctor. Cannabis, or CBD, is claimed to be useful in relieving chronic pain. But an important study conducted in Denmark revealed that excessive consumption of cannabis at a young age can cause heart attacks (CBD and Heart Attack). Tell us more about this research.
what is this study
Cannabis prescribed for chronic pain may increase the risk of heart rhythm imbalances, according to research presented at the ESC 2022 Congress.
Dr Nina Nauharvesh, a researcher at Gentoft University Hospital in Denmark, said: “Severe pain is a growing problem. According to Danish health authorities, 29% of Danish adults over the age of 16 reported chronic pain in 2017, up from 19% in 2000.
Cannabis was approved for testing in Denmark in January 2018, meaning doctors can prescribe it for chronic pain if all other measures, including opioids, prove insufficient.
These research data are therefore rare, so this study examined the cardiovascular side effects of cannabis, specifically arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats known as arrhythmias) such as palpitations in cannabis users. disorders were found.
All types of cannabis are risk factors
Cannabis comes in different formulations based on levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Dronabinol (high THC), cannabinoids (higher THC than CBD) and cannabidiol (high CBD) can be prescribed in Denmark. In various uses, its medicine can be inhaled, eaten or sprayed in the mouth.
The researchers identified a total of 1.6 million patients suffering from chronic pain in Denmark between 2018 and 2021. Of these, 4,931 patients (0.31%) tried at least one cannabis prescription (dronabinol 29%, cannabinoids 46%, cannabidiol 25%). Data for each user were matched for age, sex, and pain diagnosis with five non-users, who served as controls. Users and controls were followed for 180 days and their risks of new heart disease were compared.
What were the results of the research?
The average age of the participants was 60 years and 63% of them were women. A study report, for the first time, was conducted to measure the chronic pain status of cannabis users in Denmark. Some of them had 17.8% cancer, 17.1% arthritis, 14.9% back pain, 9.8% neurological disease, 4.4% headache, 3.0% complicated fracture and 33.1% other diagnoses (mainly chronic pain). The absolute risk of new-onset arrhythmias was 0.86% in cannabis users compared to 0.49% in non-users.
Dr Nina Nowharvesh, from Gentoft University Hospital, Denmark, said: “Our study showed that cannabis users have a 74% higher risk of heart palpitations than non-users. However, the absolute difference in risk was modest. It should be noted that in the cannabis group there was a larger group of people who were taking other painkillers, i.e. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids and antiepileptics. We cannot rule out that this may explain the abnormal heartbeat.”
Dr. Nauharvesh adds, “As cannabis is a new treatment for chronic pain patients, it is important to investigate and report serious side effects and analyze them further. This study suggests that there may be a previously unreported risk of arrhythmias following cannabis use. Although the absolute margin of risk is small, both patients and clinicians should have as much information as possible at the time of any treatment.”
