A cross-sectional analysis of the association between marijuana and cigarette smoking with metabolic syndrome among adults in the United States

Aim: To assess the relationship between marijuana use, cigarette smoking and metabolic syndrome among adults in the United States who reported they use marijuana or cigarettes in comparison to non-marijuana and non-cigarette users. Method: We conducted multiple logistic regression analyses using data from the 2011-2012 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate relationships between cardio-metabolic risk factors and increasing years of smoking cigarette or marijuana use. Statistical adjustments were made for both demographic and endogenous factors related to recreational substance use. Results: Each year increase in marijuana use was significantly associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09), and hypertension (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07) adjusting for both demographic and endogenous factors related to recreational substance use. Each year increase in cigarette smoking was significantly associated with increased odds of hypertension (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.06) and hyperglycemia (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.05) after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: The results of this investigation suggest that increased years of marijuana or cigarette use are important factors in metabolic health; and consequently calls for the need to consider the potential negative effects of marijuana or cigarette for metabolic syndrome and its associated cardio-metabolic risk components. (C) 2016 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.