A new study has found that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) who are hospitalized for asthma face more serious health problems compared to those without CUD.
This includes a higher risk of dying during their hospital stay and experiencing more severe asthma attacks.
The research, published in the journal Cureus, looked at data from over 550,000 hospitalizations for asthma in the United States between 2016 and 2021.
The data came from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, one of the largest hospital databases in the country. About 4.2% of these asthma patients were also diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.
The researchers, led by Samuel Sule-Saa from Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, found some important differences between the two groups. Patients with CUD were younger on average—about 35 years old compared to 51 years old for those without CUD—and were more likely to be male.
After reviewing the data, the researchers found that asthma patients with CUD were more than twice as likely to die in the hospital compared to those without the disorder. They also had a higher risk of experiencing severe asthma episodes, sometimes called status asthmaticus, which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.
Even after taking into account other factors like age and existing health conditions, the increased risks remained. While the odds of severe asthma attacks were a bit lower after adjustments, they were still noticeably higher for people with CUD.
The study also found that hospital bills were significantly higher for patients with cannabis use disorder, but the length of time spent in the hospital was about the same for both groups.
The findings suggest that doctors should pay closer attention to cannabis use in asthma patients. Early screening and honest conversations about cannabis use could help improve health outcomes. The study also raises broader concerns about how cannabis may affect lung health and calls for public health policies to better address these issues.
With the rise in cannabis use across the country, this study shows that it’s important to understand the potential risks—especially for people with conditions like asthma. While more research is needed, the message is clear: cannabis use may make asthma worse and could lead to serious health complications during hospital stays.
If you care about smoking, please read studies about smoking may increase heart disease risk by 200% and e-cigarette smoke may cause lung cancer and bladder disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the cause of weight gain after smoking cessation, and results showing smoking may cause white scars on the brain.
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