Washington DC [US], February 28 (HBTV): A new study has analyzed the disease burden and risk factors for severity among individuals suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Researchers at George Washington University found that the condition occurs in long-term, regular cannabis users and causes nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, and severe pain in a cyclical pattern, often leading to repeated hospital visits.
‘This is one of the first large studies to examine the burden of disease associated with this cannabis-linked syndrome,’ said Andrew Meltzer, professor of emergency medicine at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences and lead author of the study.
‘Our findings suggest that cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome could represent a costly and largely hidden public health problem.’
While the exact prevalence of the condition remains unknown, experts suggest that cases are rising as daily or near-daily cannabis use increases in the US.
To assess the disease burden, Meltzer and his colleagues surveyed 1,052 individuals who reported suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The study examined cannabis use frequency, duration, the age at which consumption began, and the need for emergency department or hospital care.
Key findings of the study:
- 85% reported at least one emergency department visit, while 44% had been hospitalized due to hyperemesis symptoms.
- Early cannabis use initiation was linked to higher odds of emergency department visits.
- Daily cannabis use before the syndrome's onset was nearly universal, with over 40% of respondents using marijuana more than five times a day.
- Prolonged use was common, with 44% regularly using cannabis for more than five years before developing the syndrome.
Although the study had limitations, including self-reported cannabis use, Meltzer noted that it highlights a significant risk of this painful and costly condition, particularly for those who begin daily cannabis use during adolescence.
He emphasized the need for further research to understand why some individuals develop the syndrome after prolonged cannabis exposure while others do not. (ANI)