Regular cannabis use linked to reduced sinonasal symptoms: JAMA

Los Angeles: In a new study conducted by Francis Reyes Orozco and the team, it was found that regular cannabis users had a reduced incidence of sinonasal symptoms. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

In the US and around the world, cannabis is the most often used illicit substance. Clinicians and patients may be better able to comprehend the symptomatology connected with cannabis use if they are aware of the relationship between cannabis use and sinonasal symptoms. As a result, this study was carried out to examine the relationship between cannabis usage frequency and the occurrence of sinonasal symptoms in a sample of US individuals that was nationally representative.

The people in this population-based, retrospective cross-sectional study ranged in age from 20 to 69 years old and had completed data on sinonasal symptoms and substance use for the 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In February 2022, the data was evaluated. This study enrolled 2269 people who used cannabis on a regular basis. The key outcomes were the presence of sinonasal symptoms, demographic information, and medical history gathered from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey questionnaires. The presence of any sinonasal symptoms was defined as answering yes to any of a series of rhinologic symptoms-related questions. Regular cannabis users were classified as having used cannabis 15 or more times in the previous 30 days.

The key highlights of this study were:

1. The incidence of sinonasal symptoms was lower among regular cannabis users than among never users.

2. Current smokers were more likely to experience sinonasal symptoms. Nasal congestion and a change in scent were the most commonly reported sinonasal symptoms.

In conclusion, the Authors found that the prevalence of sinonasal symptoms was lower among regular cannabis users compared to non-users. There was a link between cannabis use frequency and the presence of sinonasal symptoms. Further investigation into the processes behind the link between cannabis usage and sinonasal symptoms is required.

Source:

Orozco, F. R., Lin, M., & Hur, K. (2022). Cannabis Use and Sinonasal Symptoms in US Adults. In JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2022.2001