Top in cardiology: Cannabis use, heat exposure associated with higher stroke risk

Data from a cross-sectional study showed that U.S. adults who reported cannabis use had a higher risk for coronary heart disease, MI and stroke, compared with nonusers.

“Cannabis use is associated with higher risks of heart attack and stroke, and these risks are independent of use or nonuse of tobacco products,” Abra Jeffers, PhD, a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital, Mongan Institute, Health Policy Research Center, told Healio. “More frequent cannabis use is associated with greater risk.”

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, researchers found that higher hourly heat exposure was associated with an increased risk for acute ischemic stroke.

“The results add valuable insights to the adverse cardiovascular outcome of climate warming and may benefit the formulation of public health strategies to reduce cerebrovascular risk associated with high ambient temperature under global warming,” Xinlei Zhu, MS, from the School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and National Health Commission Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, and colleagues wrote.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Cannabis use ups risk for heart attacks, strokes

U.S. adults who reported cannabis use were at higher risk for coronary heart disease, MI and stroke compared with nonusers, with the risks persisting for cannabis users who reported never smoking tobacco, data show. Read more.

Higher hourly heat exposure tied to acute ischemic stroke risk

High hourly heat exposure was associated with elevated risk for acute ischemic stroke, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

High lipoprotein(a) linked to long-term risk for heart events, regardless of prior CVD

In a real-world cohort, people with the highest levels of lipoprotein(a) had the greatest risk for long-term major adverse CV events, regardless of whether they had atherosclerotic CVD at baseline, researchers reported. Read more.

Six biomarkers could predict CVD risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Six biomarkers were associated with baseline and treatment-associated changes in arterial inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and could be used to predict CVD risk in that population, researchers reported. Read more.

Living near three or more bars, fast-food restaurants could raise heart failure risk

Living in areas with a high density of pubs, bars and fast-food restaurants was associated with increased risk for incident HF, according to findings published in Circulation: Heart Failure. Read more.