This poll was initiated based on a recent article in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology¹ indicating increased cardiovascular (CV) risk for marijuana use in patients, potentially equaling tobacco risk. A concern is how often cardiologists screen for and/or counsel patients relative to CV-related risk of marijuana use.

A perhaps surprising 58% of respondents screen regularly, and only 23% never screen. I am surprised by the high screening rate, but then this could be partly age-related with physicians younger than myself being more in tune with a clinical reality. In terms of counseling patients, nearly half of respondents (46%) only do so based on gestalt. A third always do, and roughly 20% advise about risk. Only one respondent targets only young patients.

The article by DeFilippis et al. has raised awareness of the importance of marijuana screening and the importance of marijuana use as a CV risk factor at a time when legalization is increasingly common and, as a result, marijuana use will likely increase. Cardiologists need to be aware of the risk and manage patients appropriately.

References

1. DeFilippis EM, Bajaj NS, Singh A, et al. Marijuana Use in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: JACC Review Topic of the Week. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020;75:320-32.

Clinical Topics: Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Noninvasive Imaging, Prevention, Interventions and Imaging, Angiography, Nuclear Imaging, Smoking

Keywords: Angiography, Coronary Angiography, Cannabis, Marijuana Smoking, Risk Factors, Marijuana Abuse, Hallucinogens, Physicians

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