Marijuana Use Tied to Death from Hypertension, Study Suggests

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD

Patients may ask about a widely reported study suggesting that marijuana use is associated with increased risk for death from hypertension. The findings appear in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Researchers studied 1200 adults who completed the 2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Over half reported having ever used marijuana.

During follow-up through 2011, the incidence of death from hypertension was 2.6 per 1000 among marijuana users versus 1.4 per 1000 among nonusers. After adjustment for confounders, including prior diagnosis of hypertension, the risk for hypertension mortality was significantly higher with marijuana use (hazard ratio, 3.4). Risks for heart disease and cerebrovascular mortality were not significantly increased in marijuana users.

The authors point to numerous study limitations but conclude that "recreational use of marijuana should be approached with caution."