A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and available online through the National Institutes of Health found that when it comes to COVID-19, “Cannabis users had better outcomes and mortality compared with non-users”.
COVID-19.
The research, which utilized data from the National Inpatient Sample Database, sought to evaluate the impact of cannabis on severe COVID-19 outcomes. According to the study, the “primary outcome was severe COVID-19 infection, defined as a composite of acute respiratory failure, intubation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or severe sepsis with multiorgan failure.”
Researchers analyzed data from 322,214 patients admitted with a COVID-19 diagnosis, of which 2,603 were identified as cannabis users. The study notes that cannabis users were generally younger and had a higher prevalence of tobacco use. However, even after adjusting for age, race, gender, and 17 other comorbidities through propensity matching, cannabis users exhibited significantly better outcomes.
“Cannabis users had significantly lower rates of severe COVID-19 infection, intubation, ARDS, acute respiratory failure, severe sepsis with multiorgan failure, mortality, and shorter length of hospital stay,” the study reported. The researchers suggest that these improved outcomes may be linked to the immunomodulatory properties of cannabis.
The study concludes, “Cannabis users had better outcomes and mortality compared with non-users,” indicating that further research into the immunological effects of cannabis could provide valuable insights into managing severe infections like COVID-19.
