| Abstract:Background: Observational evidence investigating associations between
cannabis use and blood pressure and hypertension is inconsistent.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from 3,255 participants at Exam 6 (2016–2018)
of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were analyzed, including
self-reported cannabis smoking patterns, standardized measures of systolic
blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP; BP
collectively), and hypertension. ANCOVA and multivariable relative risk
regression models were used to calculate adjusted means for BP and adjusted
prevalence ratios (PRs) for prevalent hypertension.
Results: In fully adjusted ANCOVA models, a history of regular cannabis smoking,
when compared to no history, was not significantly associated with increased
SBP [mean difference: 0.1 mmHg (95% CI: −1.6–1.9)], DBP [mean difference:
0.5 mmHg (95% CI: −0.3–1.4)], PP [mean difference: −0.5 mmHg (95% CI:
−1.8–0.9)], or prevalent hypertension [PR: 1.01 (95% CI: 0.93−1.10)].
Furthermore, no associations were observed for either the duration or recency
(in the past month) of cannabis smoking or number of joint/pipe years.
Models exploring potential interactions between a history of regular cannabis
smoking and age, sex, race/ethnicity, and cigarette smoking status were not
significant for either BP or hypertension.
Conclusions: In a cohort of racially and ethnically diverse older adults with a high
prevalence of hypertension, no evidence of increased risk due to regular cannabis smoking was found for either blood pressure or hypertension. |