Abstract P439: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden Among Marijuana Users in the US Population

Background: The prevalence of marijuana use in the US is increasing. Marijuana use has been associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. The ASCVD risk factor burden among marijuana users compared with non-users and tobacco users has not been defined. We sought to define ASCVD risk factor burden among marijuana users in a nationally representative sample of the US population. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the 2017-2018 cycle including 4991 participants aged 18-59 representing 223 million US adults. Participants were placed in 4 groups: marijuana and cigarette user (MS), exclusive marijuana user (M), exclusive cigarette user (S), and non-users (NS). ASCVD risk factors were assessed and compared using chi-squared and ANOVA with Tukey’s adjustment for multiple hypothesis testing. Results: The N=4991 participants representing 223 million US adults were a mean 51 years old, 54.82% female and BMI of 32.53. The N=1691 M-users were compared to the N=2552 NS, N=2439 S-users, and N=1020 MS users (Table 1). The M-users were younger, mean age (38.8 years) with a higher BMI (32.9 kg/m 2 ) compared to exclusive smokers, dual-users and non-users. Prevalent coronary heart disease differed by use-group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Exclusive M-users and dual users had higher prevalent CHD. ASCVD risk factor burden differed slightly between the groups.