Abstract 9882: Cannabis Use Poses Alarming Risk of Atrial Tachyarrhythmia and Stroke in Young Patients with Obesity Associated Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a known risk factor and causes worse cardiovascular outcomes in obstructive sleep apnea. With the growing use of cannabis in the US, so we aimed to assess the impact of cannabis use disorder (CUD) on risk of atrial tachyarrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, AF; atrial fibrillation, AFL) and stroke in young patients with obesity-associated obstructive sleep apnea (OOSA). Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (2015Oct-2017) with relevant ICD-10 codes were used to identify admissions among young adults (18-44 years) with OOSA. We then matched (1:1) two cohorts of cannabis use disorder (CUD+) vs. without (CUD-) with controlling potential sociodemographic confounders. Primary outcomes of interest were frequency and risk of atrial tachyarrhythmias and stroke assessed by multivariable analysis. Results: Of 7470 demographically-matched OOSA admissions, CUD+ and CUD- cohorts had 3735 hospitalizations in each cohort. Both cohorts were comparable mean age of 38 years and CUD+ cohort more frequently included male (66.6% vs. 53.5%), African American (40.0% vs. 30.1%) patients admitted non-electively (92.3% vs. 84.5%). Rates of drug abuse, hypertension, smoking and chronic pulmonary disease were higher but diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and renal failure were lower in CUD+ cohort vs. CUD- cohort (p<0.001). The frequency of AF/AFL (5.7% vs 7.4%) related admissions were lower; however, the risk of AF/AFL (OR:1.64, 95%CI:1.17-2.30, p=0.004) and stroke (OR:4.41, 95%CI:1.41-13.77, p<0.011) admissions were significantly higher in the OOSA-CUD+ cohort vs. CUD- cohort in the multivariable analysis controlled for relevant cardiovascular/extracardiac comorbidities and concomitant alcohol/drug abuse and smoking. Conclusions: This propensity-matched analysis highlights that recreational cannabis use in young patients with OOSA may alarmingly increase emergency hospitalizations and independently increase the risk of AF/AFL and stroke.