Pediatric Patients with Cannabis Use Disorder Had Higher Rates of Urinary Symptoms
Among nearly 5 million matched pediatric patients, those with cannabis use disorder had significantly higher rates of pelvic pain, overactive bladder, dysuria, and urinary tract infections over five years.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
After propensity score matching over 4.8 million male and 4.2 million female patients under 18, those with CUD showed significantly higher rates of new urinary symptom diagnoses at 5-year follow-up. Female CUD patients had elevated rates of pelvic pain (OR 2.3), overactive bladder (OR 1.6), dysuria (OR 1.2), and UTI (OR 1.8). Male CUD patients showed increased pelvic pain (OR 3.8), dysuria (OR 1.4), and UTI (OR 1.7).
Key Numbers
~9.1 million patients screened; 11,840 matched males and 11,810 matched females per arm; median age ~15.5 years; female CUD: pelvic pain OR 2.3, OAB OR 1.6, UTI OR 1.8; male CUD: pelvic pain OR 3.8, UTI OR 1.7
How They Did This
Retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX Research Network. Male and female patients under 18 with or without CUD were propensity score matched for demographics and comorbidities. Primary outcomes: new diagnoses of LUTS, pelvic pain, overactive bladder, dysuria, or UTI at 5-year follow-up.
Why This Research Matters
Urinary symptoms in adolescents are rarely discussed in the context of cannabis use. This large database study suggests an underrecognized association that could inform clinical screening and patient counseling.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabinoid receptors are present throughout the urinary tract, providing a biological basis for these associations. As adolescent cannabis use increases, clinicians evaluating urinary symptoms in teens should consider cannabis use history.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Administrative database cannot confirm actual cannabis use patterns. CUD diagnosis codes may capture severe cases only. Cannot determine causality. Propensity matching cannot account for unmeasured confounders. UTI association may reflect behavioral rather than physiological factors.
Questions This Raises
- ?Through what mechanism might cannabinoids affect lower urinary tract function?
- ?Would cannabis cessation improve urinary symptoms in affected adolescents?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: very large matched cohort with 5-year follow-up, but administrative database with inherent limitations.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Use is Associated With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Pediatric Patients-A Large Claims Database Study.
- Published In:
- Urology, 205, 187-195 (2025)
- Authors:
- Grutman, Aurora J, Gumma, Mohammad Elmojtaba, Page, Nicole, Gabrielson, Andrew T, Clifton, Marisa, DiCarlo, Heather
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06594
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06594APA
Grutman, Aurora J; Gumma, Mohammad Elmojtaba; Page, Nicole; Gabrielson, Andrew T; Clifton, Marisa; DiCarlo, Heather. (2025). Cannabis Use is Associated With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Pediatric Patients-A Large Claims Database Study.. Urology, 205, 187-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2025.07.014
MLA
Grutman, Aurora J, et al. "Cannabis Use is Associated With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Pediatric Patients-A Large Claims Database Study.." Urology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2025.07.014
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Use is Associated With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms..." RTHC-06594. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/grutman-2025-cannabis-use-is-associated
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.