People with inherited bleeding disorders who use marijuana for symptom management report substantial benefits for sleep, anxiety and pain, according to a new study published in this month’s issue of the peer-reviewed journal Haemophilia.
The study was conducted by researchers affiliated with Liberty University, the University of Miami and the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. It examined marijuana consumption and symptom management among 88 people with inherited bleeding disorders who participated in the Community Voices in Research registry.
Of the 88 participants, 25, or 28.4%, reported using marijuana to manage symptoms. Consumption was reported among people with hemophilia A, hemophilia B, von Willebrand disease, platelet disorders and other rare inherited bleeding conditions.
Participants most commonly identified pain, anxiety, sleep disturbances and depression as reasons for using marijuana. When asked to rate its perceived effectiveness on a scale of zero to 10, respondents gave marijuana an average score of 8.35 for sleep, 7.06 for anxiety and 6.36 for pain.
The findings highlight marijuana’s perceived usefulness among patients managing conditions that can involve recurring bleeding episodes, joint complications and chronic pain. The researchers noted that relatively little information has been available about marijuana consumption and its perceived effectiveness among people with inherited bleeding disorders.
The study also compared marijuana consumers with nonconsumers using measures of pain, depression, anxiety, coping and social support. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in age, sex at birth or diagnosis, marijuana consumers reported higher anxiety scores and significantly greater opioid use.
Researchers suggested that the frequency of marijuana consumption for symptom management could reflect gaps in existing care, particularly among patients managing multiple physical and psychological symptoms.
Because the study relied on self-reported information collected at one point in time, it cannot establish whether marijuana directly improved participants’ symptoms. However, the relatively high effectiveness ratings, particularly for sleep and anxiety, provide new information about how patients with inherited bleeding disorders perceive marijuana’s medical benefits.
The researchers concluded that the findings support more comprehensive, patient-centered approaches to symptom management, including conversations between healthcare providers and patients about marijuana consumption.
