Author:
Patel Bhavin,Khadke Sumanth,Mahajan Kshitij,Dhingra Avleen,Trivedi Rishika,Brar Samrath Singh,Dixit Sakshi,Periwal Vaibhav,Chauhan Shaylika,Desai Rupak
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Recent data are inconclusive regarding the risk of arrhythmias among young cannabis users. Furthermore, many young adults use both cannabis and tobacco, which could add a residual confounding effect on outcomes. So, we studied young men who have cannabis use disorder (CUD) excluding tobacco use disorder (TUD) to understand their independent association with atrial fibrillation (AF) and related outcomes.
AIM
To study the association of CUD with AF and related outcomes.
METHODS
We used weighted discharge records from National Inpatient Sample (2019) to assess the baseline characteristics and mortality rates for AF-related hospitalizations in young (18-44 years) men in 1:1 propensity-matched CUD + vs CUD- cohorts without TUD.
RESULTS
Propensity matched CUD + and CUD- cohorts consisted of 108495 young men in each arm. Our analysis showed an increased incidence of AF in black population with CUD. In addition, the CUD + cohort had lower rates of hyperlipidemia (6.4% vs 6.9%), hypertension (5.3% vs 6.3%), obesity (9.1% vs 10.9%), alcohol abuse (15.5% vs 16.9%), but had higher rates of anxiety (24.3% vs 18.4%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (9.8% vs 9.4%) compared to CUD-cohort. After adjustment with covariates including other substance abuse, a non-significant association was found between CUD + cohort and AF related hospitalizations (odd ratio: 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.78, P = 0.15).
CONCLUSION
Among hospitalized young men, the CUD + cohort had a higher prevalence of anxiety and COPD, and slightly higher proportion of black patients. Although there were higher odds of AF hospitalizations in CUD + cohort without TUD, the association was statistically non-significant. The subgroup analysis showed higher rates of AF in black patients. Large-scale prospective studies are required to evaluate long-term effects of CUD on AF risk and prognosis without TUD and concomitant substance abuse.
Publisher
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.