Dataset Information

Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The objective of this study was to characterize the use of cannabis-based products (CBPs) by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who attend the University of British Columbia Hospital (UBCH) MS clinic.

Methods

All patients attending the UBCH MS clinic from January to March 2018 were invited to participate in an anonymous survey that included: patient demographics (sex, age and employment status), self-reported MS-specific data (subtype, disease duration, previous and current disease modifying therapies, symptomatic medications) and CBP use (formulation, frequency, perceived benefits/side-effects). A second cohort of retrospective patient data (CBP use, sex, age, disease subtype and Expanded Disability Status Scale) was extracted from the UBCH MS clinic electronic medical record (EMR).

Results

Of 600 surveys distributed, 188 were returned with completed CBP usage. CBP use was daily for 19% (n?=?37), weekly for 6% (n?=?11), monthly for 4% (n?=?7), rarely for 21% (n?=?39) and 50% (n?=?94) never used. Of the CBP users (daily, weekly and monthly), CBP use included: oral (n?=?43/55), smoked/vaporized (n?=?42/55), topical (n?=?14/55) and mucosal (n?=?5/55). EMR data was available for 561 MS patients where cannabis use/non-use was documented. CBP users represented 19% (107/561).

Conclusions

CBP use is common based on volunteer reporting, with approximately one out of four patients who attend the UBCH MS clinic using CBPs.

SUBMITTER: Schabas AJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6764052 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.

Schabas A J AJ Vukojevic V V Taylor C C Thu Z Z Badyal A A Chan J K JK Devonshire V V Traboulsee A A Sayao A L AL Carruthers R R

Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical 20190701 3

<h4>Objective</h4>The objective of this study was to characterize the use of cannabis-based products (CBPs) by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who attend the University of British Columbia Hospital (UBCH) MS clinic.<h4>Methods</h4>All patients attending the UBCH MS clinic from January to March 2018 were invited to participate in an anonymous survey that included: patient demographics (sex, age and employment status), self-reported MS-specific data (subtype, disease duration, previous and curren ...[more]

PMID: 31598330

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND: Spasticity is a common and poorly controlled symptom of multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to determine the short-term effect of smoked cannabis on this symptom. METHODS: We conducted a placebo-controlled, crossover trial involving adult patients with multiple sclerosis and spasticity. We recruited participants from a regional clinic or by referral from specialists. We randomly assigned participants to either the intervention (smoked cannabis, once daily for three days) or control (identical placebo cigarettes, once daily for three days). Each participant was assessed daily before and after treatment. After a washout interval of 11 days, participants crossed over to the opposite group. Our primary outcome was change in spasticity as measured by patient score on the modified Ashworth scale. Our secondary outcomes included patients' perception of pain (as measured using a visual analogue scale), a timed walk and changes in cognitive function (as measured by patient performance on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test), in addition to ratings of fatigue. RESULTS: Thirty-seven participants were randomized at the start of the study, 30 of whom completed the trial. Treatment with smoked cannabis resulted in a reduction in patient scores on the modified Ashworth scale by an average of 2.74 points more than placebo (p < 0.0001). In addition, treatment reduced pain scores on a visual analogue scale by an average of 5.28 points more than placebo (p = 0.008). Scores for the timed walk did not differ significantly between treatment and placebo (p = 0.2). Scores on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test decreased by 8.67 points more with treatment than with placebo (p = 0.003). No serious adverse events occurred during the trial. INTERPRETATION: Smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in symptom and pain reduction in participants with treatment-resistant spasticity. Future studies should examine whether different doses can result in similar beneficial effects with less cognitive impact.

Project description:AimsTo identify prototypical developmental patterns of tobacco product and cannabis use and co-use initiation during adolescence, and determine risk factors for and consequences of these initiation patterns.DesignProspective repeated-measures cohort with eight semi-annual assessments during high school. Multiple-event process survival mixture modeling identified latent initiation classes with distinct patterns of variation in timing of use initiation of tobacco products and cannabis. We then estimated: (1) associations of baseline risk factors with membership in initiation classes and (2) differences between initiation classes in frequency of cannabis and tobacco product use at the final assessment.SettingTen high schools in the Los Angeles, CA, USA metropolitan area, 2013-17.ParticipantsStudents [1031 (45.4%) males; mean (standard deviation) age at baseline = 14.6 (0.39) years] who had never used any tobacco products or cannabis at baseline 9th grade assessment (n = 2272).MeasurementsSelf-report measures of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), combustible cigarette, hookah, cigar/cigarillos and cannabis use were collected at each assessment.FindingsFour distinct tobacco and cannabis use initiation classes were identified: (1) early and high-risk cannabis and polytobacco initiators (n = 116; 5.1%); (2) early cannabis and polytobacco initiators (n = 172; 7.6%); (3) late cannabis and e-cigarette initiators (n = 431; 19.0%); and (4) abstainers (n = 1553; 68.4%). At baseline, older age for the early and high-risk cannabis and polytobacco initiators [odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10, 1.35, P < 0.001], peer cannabis use (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.23, 2.08, P < 0.001) and delinquent behavior (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.55, P = 0.004) were associated with membership in the three initiation classes (versus abstainers). Membership in the early and high-risk cannabis and polytobacco initiators class (versus three other classes) was significantly associated with increased past 30-day frequency and daily intensity of use at the final assessment (P-values < 0.001).ConclusionsOlder age, peer cannabis use and delinquent behavior appear to be risk factors for the initiation of tobacco/cannabis product use among high school students in the Los Angeles metropolitan region. Early and higher-risk polyproduct use initiation appears to be associated with greater escalation of past 30-day and daily tobacco and cannabis use at the end of the high school.

Project description:Introduction: Cannabis-including blunts (cannabis rolled in tobacco-containing cigar casing) -is commonly the first substance used among adolescents and may increase the likelihood of subsequent initiation of combustible tobacco products.Aims and methods: Data were pooled from two prospective studies of adolescents in California and Connecticut (total N = 4594). Logistic regression models assessed the association of baseline ever blunt use and ever non-blunt cannabis use (vs. never cannabis use) with subsequent initiation of any combustible tobacco-only product (ie, cigarettes, cigars, or cigarillos) by 1-year follow-up after adjustment for demographic characteristics and other tobacco product use at baseline. We also assessed whether estimates differed by prior e-cigarette or hookah use at baseline.Results: Among never combustible tobacco-only product users (N = 2973), 221 (7.4%) had ever used a blunt and 114 (3.8%) had ever used only non-blunt cannabis at baseline. Blunt use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30 to 3.01) and non-blunt cannabis use (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.41 to 4.00) were independently associated with greater odds of combustible tobacco-only product initiation by follow-up. Among those who had not tried e-cigarettes or who had not tried hookah, blunt use and non-blunt cannabis use were associated with significantly increased odds of combustible tobacco product initiation; among those who had tried e-cigarettes or hookah, the association was not significant.Conclusions: We found blunt and non-blunt cannabis use to be associated with subsequent combustible tobacco-only product initiation, particularly among adolescents who had not also tried other products containing nicotine.Implications: Adolescent-focused tobacco prevention efforts should consider incorporating cannabis products, including blunts. More research is needed to understand how blunt use and cannabis use more broadly are associated with initiation of tobacco products.

Dataset Information

Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets