RESUMO
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.