Association between cannabis use and blood pressure levels according to comorbidities and socioeconomic status

Abstract

The associations between blood pressure and cannabis use remain inconsistent. The purpose of our study was to examine gender stratified associations of cannabis use and blood pressure [systolic, diastolic blood pressure (BP), pulse pressure (PP)] levels among the general UK Biobank population based study. Among 91,161 volunteers of the UK Biobank population, cannabis use status was assessed by questionnaire and range as heavy, moderate, low and never users. Associations between cannabis use and BP were estimated using multiple gender linear regressions. In adjusted covariates models, lifetime heavy cannabis use was associated with decrease in both SBP, DBP and PP in both genders, but with a higher effect among women (for SBP in men, b = − 1.09 (0.27), p < 0.001; in women, b = − 1.85 (0.36), p < 0.001; for DBP in men, b = − 0.50 (0.15), p < 0.001; in women, b = − 0.87 (0.17), p < 0.001; and for PP in men, b = − 0.60 (0.20), p < 0.001; in women, b = − 0.97 (0.27), p < 0.001. Among men, lower SBP and DBP levels were observed with participants without dyslipidemia and lower PP in participants with high income levels. Among women, lower SBP, DBP and PP were observed with current smokers, moderate/low alcohol levels and participants without dyslipidemia. Current cannabis use was associated with lower SBP levels in men (b = − 0.63 (0.25), p = 0.012) and in women (b = − 1.17 (0.31), p < 0.001). Same results were observed for DBP and PP. Negative association between BP in men was found but not in women. The small association in BP differences between heavy users and never users remains too small to adopt cannabis-blood pressure public policy in clinical practice.