{"id":26271,"date":"2022-08-22T12:20:02","date_gmt":"2022-08-22T11:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/?p=26271"},"modified":"2022-08-22T13:29:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T12:29:20","slug":"prescribed-cannabis-linked-with-small-risk-of-heart-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/2022\/08\/22\/prescribed-cannabis-linked-with-small-risk-of-heart-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Prescribed cannabis linked with \u2018small risk\u2019 of heart problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medicinal cannabis, prescribed for chronic pain, has been linked to a modest increase in the risk of heart rhythm disorders.<\/b><\/h3>\n

New research presented at European Society of Cardiology<\/a>\u00a0Congress 2022 has found cannabis prescribed for chronic pain<\/a> to be associated with an elevated risk of heart rhythm disorders.<\/p>\n

While heart rhythm disorders have previously been identified in recreational cannabis<\/a> consumers, little data is available yet on the cardiovascular effects of medicinal cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investigators at <\/span>Gentofte University Hospital, Denmark aimed to shine some light on any potential safety risks, particularly that of cardiovascular arrhythmias from cannabis<\/a> which is prescribed for chronic pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical cannabis comes in various formulations depending on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dronabinol (high THC), cannabinoid (more THC than CBD), and cannabidiol (high CBD) can be prescribed legally in Denmark. The drug can be inhaled, eaten, or sprayed in the mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The researchers identified a total of 1.6 million patients diagnosed with chronic pain in Denmark between 2018 and 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of those, 4,931 patients claimed at least one prescription of cannabis (dronabinol per cent, cannabinoids 46 per cent, cannabidiol 25 per cent).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each user was matched by age, sex and pain diagnosis to five non-users with chronic pain who acted as controls. Users and controls were followed for 180 days and their risks of new cardiovascular conditions were compared.<\/span><\/p>\n

The median age of participants was 60 years and 63 per cent were women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The study reports, for the first time, the chronic pain conditions of medical cannabis users in Denmark. These include cancer<\/a>, arthritis<\/a>, back pain, neurological diseases, headaches and complicated fractures. Around a third of participants were classed as having other diagnoses (mostly unspecified chronic pain).<\/span><\/p>\n

The absolute risk of new-onset arrhythmia was 0.86 per cent in medical cannabis users compared with 0.49 per cent in non-users, for a relative risk of 1.74.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The risks of new-onset acute coronary syndrome and heart failure did not differ between the two groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The results were similar for each chronic pain condition and each type of medical cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Cannabis and heart health – potential risk or protective agent?<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Study author Dr Nina Nouhravesh said: \u201cChronic pain is a rising problem. According to Danish health authorities, 29 per cent of Danish adults over 16 years of age reported chronic pain in 2017, up from 19 per cent in 2000.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMedical cannabis was approved in January 2018 on a trial basis in Denmark, meaning that physicians can prescribe it for chronic pain if all other measures, including opioids, have proven insufficient.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She continued: \u201cOur study found that medical cannabis users had a 74 per cent higher risk of heart rhythm disorders compared with non-users; however, the absolute risk difference was modest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt should be noted that a higher proportion of those in the cannabis group were taking other pain medications, namely non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids<\/a> and anti-epileptics, and we cannot rule out that this might explain the greater likelihood of arrhythmias.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In conclusion, Dr Nina Nouhravesh commented: \u201cSince medical cannabis is a relatively new drug for a large market of patients with chronic pain, it is important to investigate and report serious side effects. This study indicates that there may be a previously unreported risk of arrhythmias following medical cannabis use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven though the absolute risk difference is small, both patients and physicians should have as much information as possible when weighing up the pros and cons of any treatment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n