Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey

Objective: Case reports and hospital-based case-control studies suggest that cannabis use may increase the risk of stroke. We examined the risk of non-fatal stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) among cannabis users in the general community. Method: A general population survey of Australians age...

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Main Authors: Hemachandra, D., McKetin, Rebecca, Cherbuin, N., Anstey, K.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56745
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author Hemachandra, D.
McKetin, Rebecca
Cherbuin, N.
Anstey, K.
author_facet Hemachandra, D.
McKetin, Rebecca
Cherbuin, N.
Anstey, K.
author_sort Hemachandra, D.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: Case reports and hospital-based case-control studies suggest that cannabis use may increase the risk of stroke. We examined the risk of non-fatal stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) among cannabis users in the general community. Method: A general population survey of Australians aged 20-24 years (n=2,383), 40-44 years (n=2,525) and 60-64 years (n=2,547) was used to determine the odds of lifetime stroke or TIA among participants who had smoked cannabis in the past year while adjusting for other stroke risk factors. Results: There were 153 stroke/TIA cases (2.1%). After adjusting for age cohort, past year cannabis users (n=1,043) had 3.3 times the rate of stroke/TIA (95% CI 1.8-6.3, p < 0.001). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) reduced to 2.3 after adjustment for covariates related to stroke, including tobacco smoking (95% CI 1.1-4.5). Elevated stroke/TIA was specific to participants who used cannabis weekly or more often (IRR 4.7, 95% CI 2.1-10.7) with no elevation among participants who used cannabis less often. Conclusions: Heavy cannabis users in the general community have a higher rate of non-fatal stroke or transient ischemic attack than non-cannabis users.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-567452023-02-22T06:24:17Z Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey Hemachandra, D. McKetin, Rebecca Cherbuin, N. Anstey, K. Objective: Case reports and hospital-based case-control studies suggest that cannabis use may increase the risk of stroke. We examined the risk of non-fatal stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) among cannabis users in the general community. Method: A general population survey of Australians aged 20-24 years (n=2,383), 40-44 years (n=2,525) and 60-64 years (n=2,547) was used to determine the odds of lifetime stroke or TIA among participants who had smoked cannabis in the past year while adjusting for other stroke risk factors. Results: There were 153 stroke/TIA cases (2.1%). After adjusting for age cohort, past year cannabis users (n=1,043) had 3.3 times the rate of stroke/TIA (95% CI 1.8-6.3, p < 0.001). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) reduced to 2.3 after adjustment for covariates related to stroke, including tobacco smoking (95% CI 1.1-4.5). Elevated stroke/TIA was specific to participants who used cannabis weekly or more often (IRR 4.7, 95% CI 2.1-10.7) with no elevation among participants who used cannabis less often. Conclusions: Heavy cannabis users in the general community have a higher rate of non-fatal stroke or transient ischemic attack than non-cannabis users. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56745 10.1111/1753-6405.12477 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia unknown
spellingShingle Hemachandra, D.
McKetin, Rebecca
Cherbuin, N.
Anstey, K.
Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey
title Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey
title_full Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey
title_fullStr Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey
title_full_unstemmed Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey
title_short Heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: Evidence from a general population survey
title_sort heavy cannabis users at elevated risk of stroke: evidence from a general population survey
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56745