About 2% of the general population meets criteria for functional nausea and vomiting disorders, with cannabis use amplifying hot-bath seeking
A population survey of nearly 6,000 adults found 2.2% met criteria for functional nausea/vomiting disorders, with all seven cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome located in the US and hot water bathing behavior augmented by cannabis use across all vomiting disorders.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
FNVDs affected 2.2% of the population. CVS prevalence was higher in the US (2%) than Canada (0.7%) or UK (1%). All 7 cases meeting cannabinoid hyperemesis criteria were in the US. Hot water bathing to relieve vomiting was significantly more common in CVS (44%) than CNVS (19%) and was independent of cannabis use but augmented by it.
Key Numbers
5,931 adults surveyed. 2.2% (n=131) met FNVD criteria. US prevalence: 3%. CVS: US 2%, Canada 0.7%, UK 1%. 7 cannabinoid hyperemesis cases, all in US. Hot bathing: CVS 44% vs CNVS 19% (p=.03). Cannabis augmented hot bathing behavior.
How They Did This
Internet cross-sectional health survey of 5,931 adults across the US, Canada, and UK in 2015. Quota-based sampling for demographic balance. Rome IV diagnostic criteria for functional nausea and vomiting disorders.
Why This Research Matters
This is one of the first population-level estimates of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome prevalence using standardized diagnostic criteria. The finding that hot bathing behavior occurs in all functional vomiting disorders, not just cannabinoid hyperemesis, challenges assumptions about diagnosis.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that hot water bathing is not unique to cannabinoid hyperemesis, but is amplified by cannabis, suggests a more nuanced relationship between cannabis and vomiting disorders than previously appreciated. It also raises questions about diagnostic specificity.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Internet survey with self-reported symptoms. Cannabis use patterns were not detailed. The 7 cannabinoid hyperemesis cases are too few for meaningful subgroup analysis. Cultural differences in cannabis access may explain geographic variation.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why is cannabinoid hyperemesis apparently more prevalent in the US?
- ?Does cannabis cause the vomiting or exacerbate a pre-existing tendency?
- ?Could some cyclic vomiting syndrome cases be undiagnosed cannabinoid hyperemesis?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 2.2% population prevalence
- Evidence Grade:
- Rated moderate because this is a large population-representative survey using standardized Rome IV criteria, though self-report and small subgroup sizes limit some findings.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019 based on 2015 data, before recreational cannabis legalization in Canada (2018).
- Original Title:
- Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Associations for Rome IV Functional Nausea and Vomiting Disorders in Adults.
- Published In:
- Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 17(5), 878-886 (2019)
- Authors:
- Aziz, Imran, Palsson, Olafur S, Whitehead, William E, Sperber, Ami D, Simrén, Magnus, Törnblom, Hans
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01926
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
In this survey, 7 out of nearly 6,000 adults met criteria, all in the US. The broader category of cyclic vomiting syndrome affected about 1-2% of the population.
Why do people with vomiting disorders take hot baths?
Hot water bathing relieved vomiting symptoms in 44% of cyclic vomiting patients. Interestingly, this behavior was not unique to cannabinoid hyperemesis but was more common and amplified by cannabis use.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01926APA
Aziz, Imran; Palsson, Olafur S; Whitehead, William E; Sperber, Ami D; Simrén, Magnus; Törnblom, Hans. (2019). Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Associations for Rome IV Functional Nausea and Vomiting Disorders in Adults.. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 17(5), 878-886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2018.05.020
MLA
Aziz, Imran, et al. "Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Associations for Rome IV Functional Nausea and Vomiting Disorders in Adults.." Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2018.05.020
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Associations for..." RTHC-01926. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/aziz-2019-epidemiology-clinical-characteristics-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.