Prenatal cannabis use was associated with higher SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in California pregnancies
Among 58,114 pregnancies in California, prenatal cannabis use was associated with increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, possibly through immune modulation or behavioral factors.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Prenatal cannabis use was significantly associated with higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy in a large California cohort. The association remained after adjusting for known confounders.
Key Numbers
58,114 pregnancies in California. Prenatal cannabis use associated with increased SARS-CoV-2 infection risk after adjusting for confounders.
How They Did This
Retrospective cohort study of 58,114 pregnancies in California. Cannabis use identified through prenatal screening. SARS-CoV-2 infection status determined from testing records. Adjusted for demographic and clinical confounders.
Why This Research Matters
If cannabis use increases infection susceptibility during pregnancy, it represents an additional risk factor that prenatal care providers should consider, particularly during respiratory illness surges.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis has immunomodulatory properties, and respiratory effects of smoked cannabis could affect vulnerability to respiratory infections. This finding adds to concerns about cannabis use during pregnancy beyond fetal development effects.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective design. Cannot confirm causation. Cannabis use measured at screening and may not reflect use throughout pregnancy. Behavioral confounders (social distancing compliance, testing frequency) difficult to fully control. Single geographic region during a specific pandemic wave.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is the association driven by immune effects of cannabinoids or by behavioral correlates of cannabis use?
- ?Would non-smoked cannabis show the same association with respiratory infection risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 58,114 pregnancies; prenatal cannabis use linked to higher SARS-CoV-2 risk
- Evidence Grade:
- Large retrospective cohort with adjusted analysis. Behavioral confounding and single-pandemic-wave context limit generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- Association of cannabis use during pregnancy with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: a retrospective cohort study.
- Published In:
- Addiction (Abingdon, England), 118(2), 317-326 (2023)
- Authors:
- Young-Wolff, Kelly C(42), Ray, G Thomas, Alexeeff, Stacey E(19), Benowitz, Neal, Adams, Sara R, Does, Monique B, Goler, Nancy, Ansley, Deborah, Conway, Amy, Avalos, Lyndsay A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05048
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use during pregnancy increase COVID risk?
This large California study found an association between prenatal cannabis use and higher SARS-CoV-2 infection rates. However, it cannot prove cannabis caused the increased infection risk. Behavioral differences between cannabis users and non-users, rather than biological effects of cannabis, could explain the finding.
How might cannabis affect infection risk?
Cannabis has immunomodulatory properties that could theoretically affect susceptibility to infections. Additionally, smoking cannabis irritates respiratory tissue, potentially making airways more vulnerable. Social and behavioral factors associated with cannabis use may also influence exposure risk.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05048APA
Young-Wolff, Kelly C; Ray, G Thomas; Alexeeff, Stacey E; Benowitz, Neal; Adams, Sara R; Does, Monique B; Goler, Nancy; Ansley, Deborah; Conway, Amy; Avalos, Lyndsay A. (2023). Association of cannabis use during pregnancy with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: a retrospective cohort study.. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 118(2), 317-326. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16056
MLA
Young-Wolff, Kelly C, et al. "Association of cannabis use during pregnancy with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: a retrospective cohort study.." Addiction (Abingdon, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16056
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Association of cannabis use during pregnancy with severe acu..." RTHC-05048. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/young-wolff-2023-association-of-cannabis-use
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.