Daily Cannabis Users with Sickle Cell Disease Show Fewer Admissions than Others with Similar Pain Complaints

Susanna A. Curtis, Amanda M. Brandow, Michelle Deveaux, Daniel Zeltermam, Lesley Devine, John D. Roberts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that cannabis use is common in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), and that many patients report using cannabis to treat pain. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of adults with SCD and compared daily users of cannabis with others using validated patient-reported measures of pain and quality of life as well as opioid and health care utilization. Results: Daily cannabis users with SCD had worse pain episode severity scores than others (56.7 vs. 48.8, p=0.02) yet had 1.8 fewer annual admissions (p=0.01) and 1.2 fewer annual emergency room (ER) visits (p=0.01), and similar amounts of opioids dispensed to others after matching for age, gender, SCD genotype, hydroxyurea use, and pain impact scores. Conclusions: We show that people with SCD with more severe pain crisis are more likely to use daily cannabis, yet have lower rates of hospital admission and ER use as compared with others with similar disease severity and pain impact. Randomized controlled trials should be performed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)255-262
Number of pages8
JournalCannabis and Cannabinoid Research
Volume5
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cannabinoid
  • cannabis
  • pain
  • sickle cell disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Complementary and alternative medicine
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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