Abstract
Background: Medical cannabis use is increasing rapidly in the past several years,
with older adults being the fastest growing group. Nevertheless, the evidence for
cardiovascular safety of cannabis use is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess
the effect of cannabis on blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolic parameters in
older adults with hypertension.
Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients aged 60 years or more with hypertension
and a new prescription of cannabis. We have performed the following assessments: 24-hours
ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, ECG, blood tests, and anthropometric measurements
prior to the initiation of cannabis therapy and 3 months afterward. The primary outcome
was change in mean 24-h blood pressure at 3 months.
Results: Twenty-six patients with a mean age of 70.42 ± 5.37 years, 53.8% females
completed the study. At 3 months follow-up, the mean 24-hours systolic and diastolic
blood pressures were reduced by 5.0 mmHg and 4.5 mmHg, respectively (p<0.001 for both).
The nadir for the blood pressure and heart rate was achieved at 3 hours post-administration.
The proportion of normal dippers changed from 27.3% before treatment to 45.5% afterward.
No significant changes were seen in the different metabolic parameters assessed by
blood tests, anthropometric measurements, or ECG exam.
Conclusion: amongst older adults with hypertension, cannabis treatment for 3 months
was associated with a reduction in 24-hours systolic and diastolic blood pressure
values with a nadir at 3 hours after cannabis administration.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 20, 2021
Accepted:
January 4,
2021
Received in revised form:
January 2,
2021
Received:
October 26,
2020
Identification
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© 2021 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
