Cannabis Use Increases ER Visits and Hospitalizations for Gastroparesis Patients
Among 41,374 gastroparesis patients, cannabis users had 73% more ER visits and 44% more hospitalizations than non-users, despite theoretical benefits of cannabinoids for nausea and gastric motility.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis-using gastroparesis patients had significantly increased ER visits (aOR=1.73, 95% CI=1.66-1.80) and hospitalizations (aOR=1.44, 95% CI=1.39-1.50) compared to propensity-matched non-users, despite slightly reduced endoscopy rates (aOR=0.93, 95% CI=0.88-0.98).
Key Numbers
N=41,374 matched (20,687 per group); ER visits aOR=1.73; hospitalizations aOR=1.44; endoscopy aOR=0.93; cannabis users: younger, more diabetes, more mood/anxiety disorders, higher HbA1c, more opioid use
How They Did This
Retrospective propensity-matched cohort study of 41,374 gastroparesis patients (20,687 cannabis users matched 1:1 to non-users) from the TriNetX database (119 million individuals), examining ER visits, hospitalizations, and endoscopy rates.
Why This Research Matters
Despite cannabis being touted for nausea and appetite — key gastroparesis symptoms — this large real-world study shows cannabis users actually have worse healthcare outcomes, possibly due to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome or delayed gastric emptying from cannabis.
The Bigger Picture
This challenges the narrative that cannabis is beneficial for gastroparesis — at the population level, cannabis users have significantly worse outcomes, though the observational design cannot determine if cannabis causes worse outcomes or if sicker patients are more likely to use cannabis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Observational design with confounding risk despite propensity matching; cannot determine if cannabis causes outcomes or sicker patients use cannabis; cannabis user definition may include CHS patients; database coding limitations; no cannabis dose/product information.
Questions This Raises
- ?How much of the increased healthcare use is driven by CHS in gastroparesis patients?
- ?Would specific cannabinoid formulations (CBD-dominant) show different outcomes?
- ?Should gastroparesis patients be counseled against cannabis use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Large propensity-matched cohort from a major database provides strong real-world evidence, though observational design and potential confounding by indication limit causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026 in American Journal of Gastroenterology.
- Original Title:
- The Impact of Cannabis Use in Gastroparesis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of 41,374 Gastroparesis Patients.
- Published In:
- The American journal of gastroenterology, 121(1), 248-257 (2026)
- Authors:
- Kilani, Yassine(2), Gonzalez Mosquera, Daniel Alejandro, Puelo, Priscila Castro, Aldiabat, Mohammad, Ruffle, James K, Madi, Mahmoud Y, Farmer, Adam D
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08384
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis good for gastroparesis?
Despite theoretical benefits for nausea and motility, this study of over 41,000 patients found that cannabis users with gastroparesis actually had 73% more ER visits and 44% more hospitalizations — possibly due to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome or cannabis-related gastric slowing.
Can cannabis make stomach problems worse?
In gastroparesis patients, cannabis use was associated with significantly more ER visits and hospitalizations. Cannabis can paradoxically slow gastric emptying and cause cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, both of which would worsen gastroparesis.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08384APA
Kilani, Yassine; Gonzalez Mosquera, Daniel Alejandro; Puelo, Priscila Castro; Aldiabat, Mohammad; Ruffle, James K; Madi, Mahmoud Y; Farmer, Adam D. (2026). The Impact of Cannabis Use in Gastroparesis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of 41,374 Gastroparesis Patients.. The American journal of gastroenterology, 121(1), 248-257. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003479
MLA
Kilani, Yassine, et al. "The Impact of Cannabis Use in Gastroparesis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of 41,374 Gastroparesis Patients.." The American journal of gastroenterology, 2026. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003479
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Impact of Cannabis Use in Gastroparesis: A Propensity-Ma..." RTHC-08384. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kilani-2026-the-impact-of-cannabis
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.