Study: cannabis use increases survival rate in the face of heart attacks

People hospitalized following a heart attack would be more likely to survive if they are or were cannabis users, according to a 2017 study by researchers from across the US.

They analyzed data from hospitals in several US states, from 1994 to 2013, on 3 million patients hospitalized following an AMI (Acute Myochardial Infarction), also known as a heart attack. After excluding people aged under 18 or over 70, and those abusing alcohol, methamphetamine or cocaine, the cohort shrinks to 1.27 million, including 3854 users of cannabis.

Next, the scientists looked for a correlation between cannabis use and the problems incurred following heart attacks in hospitalized patients, such as placement on artificial respiration, the need for an aorta artery pump (IABP), coma, cardiac arrest and death. Thus, contrary to their hypothesis, they found no correlation between cannabis consumption and the risks outlined above. On the other hand, people considered to be cannabis users were more likely to be placed on artificial respiration, which could be linked to the risks associated with cannabis use. smoke-induced lung damage and not to cannabis per se, which the scientists have not considered here.

What's more, patients who use cannabis are significantly less likely to die, have an IABP installed, or fall into a coma than patients who have never used weed.

Conclusive results that contradicted the researchers« initial hypothesis: »These results suggest that, contrary to our hypothesis, cannabis use is not associated with an increased risk of adverse short-term heart attack outcomes. In addition, cannabis use is associated with lower mortality following MI".