Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is linked to chronic, frequent cannabinoid use. While the disease's exact prevalence remains unclear, research suggests that it is becoming more common as daily or near-daily use of cannabis increases in the US.
In the current study, the researchers conducted an internet-based survey including 1, 052 people with self-reported cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome to assess the burden of the disease and investigate links between heavy cannabis use, early initiation of cannabis use and cannabis hyperemesis syndrome episode frequency.
Ultimately, 85% of participants reported at least one emergency department visit, and 44% reported at least one hospitalization linked to hyperemesis symptoms. Early age of starting cannabis use was also linked to a higher likelihood of emergency department visits.
Daily cannabis use before disease onset was almost universal, with 44% reporting regular use for more than five years before syndrome onset. Over 40% of participants reported using cannabis more than five times per day.
“This is one of the first large studies to examine the burden of disease associated with this cannabis-linked syndrome. Our findings suggest that cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome could represent a costly and largely hidden public health problem," said lead author of the study, Andrew Meltzer, professor of emergency medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine & Health Sciences in a press release.
Meltzer noted that more research is needed to understand why some people and not others develop the condition after prolonged cannabis use. He added that it is important for clinicians to advise those with frequent cannabinoid use or hyperemesis about the risks and subsequent disease burden, as many patients don't know that the syndrome is linked to cannabis use.
Sources: EurekAlert, Annals of Emergency Medicine
