New York, NY: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who consume cannabis are less likely to die while hospitalized and they incur fewer hospital-related expenses as compared to non-users, according to data published in the journal Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.
Researchers affiliated with St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City assessed the relationship between cannabis use and inpatient outcomes in a cohort of more than 3.3 million RA patients over five years.
After adjusting for age, gender, race, and comorbidities, cannabis use at the time of hospitalization was linked to decreased mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.50), depression (OR: 0.47), chronic pain (OR: 0.45), and anxiety (OR: 0.55). Cannabis consumers also incurred nearly 10 percent fewer hospital-related charges per visit.
“While these findings suggest potential benefits of cannabis use for symptom management, it is important to recognize that the current evidence is observational,” the study’s authors concluded. “Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to develop strategies that maximize the benefits of cannabis use while minimizing the risks.”
Other studies have similarly linked cannabis use with decreased in-hospital mortality, specifically among patients with acute myocardial infarction, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, HIV, burn-related injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and various other types of severe trauma.
Survey data reports that as many as one in five arthritis patients use cannabis products to mitigate their symptoms and reduce their use of prescription opioids.
Full text of the study, “Inpatient outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis in hospitalized patients using cannabis: Data from the National Inpatient Sample,” appears in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. Additional information on cannabis and arthritis is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.