Cannabis could help heart failure patients

A team of researchers discovered that cannabis may have some benefits for heart failure sufferers, but their finding should not be taken as a recommendation to consume cannabis.

At a’American Heart Association, Dr. Oluwole Adegbala, resident physician at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey, presented the findings of a currently unpublished study on the links between cannabis use and heart failure.

Previous studies further suggest that the consumption of cannabis may be linked to heart problems. That's why the researchers were surprised to find that cannabis users were less likely to suffer from atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that can worsen the symptoms of heart failure. In France, this condition affects 1% of the population, but more than 10% over the age of 80.

Dr. Adegbala and his team analyzed the records of more than 6 million heart failure patients admitted to hospital between 2007 and 2014. Around 23,000 patients had reported using cannabis without being dependent, and 1,200 were considered dependent users. Patient data were adjusted for age, socioeconomic status and use of other drugs.

Non-dependent users were 18% less likely to develop atrial fibrillation than non-users, and 46% less likely to die in hospital. Dependent users were 31% less likely to develop atrial fibrillation, and 58% less likely to die in hospital.

However, the researchers were unable to determine the exact reason why cannabis reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation or mortality in heart failure patients.

Previous research on animals had shown that hypertension and atherosclerosis, both risk factors for atrial fibrillation, could be reduced by activating cannabinoid receptors. Dr. Adegbala also notes that cannabidiol can reduce inflammation, another risk factor for atrial fibrillation.