Cannabis-related intractable vomiting hospitalizations increased significantly from 2010 to 2014
Hospitalizations for intractable vomiting with cannabis use disorder rose significantly over five years, with 41% of patients also having tobacco dependence and rising rates of anxiety.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Hospitalizations for intractable vomiting with CUD showed a significant increasing trend from 2010-2014 (N=9,601 total). Anxiety disorders increased from 20.8% to 30.8% as a comorbidity, while depression decreased from 19.2% to 16.4%. Concomitant tobacco abuse/dependence was present in 41.2% of patients.
Key Numbers
9,601 hospitalizations total (2010-2014); significant increasing trend; anxiety comorbidity rose from 20.8% to 30.8%; depression fell from 19.2% to 16.4%; tobacco co-use 41.2%.
How They Did This
Retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2010-2014), identifying patients aged 16-50 with primary diagnosis of intractable vomiting and cannabis use disorder.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis use increases, so do its paradoxical gastrointestinal side effects. The rising hospitalization trend predated widespread legalization, suggesting the problem may have worsened further since this data was collected.
The Bigger Picture
CHS hospitalizations represent a growing and underappreciated cost of cannabis use. The association with increasing anxiety comorbidity suggests that mental health factors may influence who develops this syndrome.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Administrative database study relying on discharge codes. CHS may be underdiagnosed and coded inconsistently. Cannot determine cannabis potency, frequency, or product type from billing data.
Questions This Raises
- ?Has the trend accelerated post-legalization?
- ?Does higher-potency cannabis correlate with higher CHS rates?
- ?Why is anxiety increasing while depression is decreasing as a comorbidity?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 9,601 hospitalizations in 5 years
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large national database but reliant on administrative coding.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- Burden of Comorbidities in Hospitalizations for Cannabis Use-associated Intractable Vomiting during Post-legalization Period.
- Published In:
- Cureus, 11(8), e5502 (2019)
- Authors:
- Madireddy, Sowmya, Patel, Rikinkumar S(7), Ravat, Virendrasinh(3), Ajibawo, Temitope, Lal, Anthony, Patel, Jenil, Patel, Riddhi, Goyal, Hemant
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02153
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are CHS hospitalizations increasing?
Yes, this study found a significant upward trend in cannabis-related intractable vomiting hospitalizations from 2010-2014 in a national US database.
What other conditions do CHS patients have?
Common comorbidities included anxiety disorders (rising to 30.8%), depression, and tobacco dependence (41.2%).
Read More on RethinkTHC
- cannabis-cardiovascular-heart-risk-stroke
- cannabis-heart-cardiovascular-risk
- coughing-up-stuff-after-quitting-weed
- lung-recovery-after-quitting-smoking-weed
- lung-recovery-quitting-weed
- quitting-weed-female-hormones
- quitting-weed-weight-gain-loss-diet-appetite
- sex-after-quitting-weed
- weed-DUI-driving-impaired-cannabis-laws
- weed-acne-skin
- weed-fertility-sperm
- weed-gut-digestion-problems
- weed-heart-health
- weed-testosterone-levels
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02153APA
Madireddy, Sowmya; Patel, Rikinkumar S; Ravat, Virendrasinh; Ajibawo, Temitope; Lal, Anthony; Patel, Jenil; Patel, Riddhi; Goyal, Hemant. (2019). Burden of Comorbidities in Hospitalizations for Cannabis Use-associated Intractable Vomiting during Post-legalization Period.. Cureus, 11(8), e5502. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5502
MLA
Madireddy, Sowmya, et al. "Burden of Comorbidities in Hospitalizations for Cannabis Use-associated Intractable Vomiting during Post-legalization Period.." Cureus, 2019. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5502
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Burden of Comorbidities in Hospitalizations for Cannabis Use..." RTHC-02153. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/madireddy-2019-burden-of-comorbidities-in
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.