Snus use is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart failure, according to a new Swedish study. The research, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, followed over 4,000 men for up to 32 years to examine the connection between snus consumption and cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death globally, making research into risk factors like snus use critically important for public health initiatives.
At the start of the study, between 1990 and 1999, participants were either 40 or 50 years old and had never smoked. Approximately 11 percent of the men reported using snus. Researchers then compared the risk of developing various heart conditions between snus users and those who did not use snus over the course of the study.
“The risk of developing high blood pressure increased by 64 percent if a person used snus. The risk of developing heart failure, which is a serious condition, increased by 75 percent if a person used snus,” said Lena Lönnberg, a researcher affiliated with Region Västmanland and Uppsala University.
Snus Users Had No Higher Mortality
The study did not determine how much or how long a person needs to use snus for these risks to emerge. Participants only answered yes or no to whether they used snus, without providing details about their consumption levels.
“We cannot comment on how much snus causes these effects,” said Lena Lönnberg. “In terms of timing, One can see in the analyses that the curves between the different groups begin to diverge after about ten years.”
Researchers found no significant difference in overall mortality between snus users and non-users. According to Lena Lönnberg, this may be due to the relatively small number of participants, which could limit the ability to detect such differences.
