Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults
The proportion of older adults using medical cannabis is rising. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of herbal medical cannabis on the functional status of older adults. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients aged 65 years or older that initiated cannabis treatment for diff...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Biomedicines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/10/2697 |
| _version_ | 1827721593559711744 |
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| author | Ran Abuhasira Lihi Schwartz Victor Novack |
| author_facet | Ran Abuhasira Lihi Schwartz Victor Novack |
| author_sort | Ran Abuhasira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The proportion of older adults using medical cannabis is rising. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of herbal medical cannabis on the functional status of older adults. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients aged 65 years or older that initiated cannabis treatment for different indications, mostly chronic non-cancer pain, during 2018–2020 in a specialized geriatric clinic. The outcomes assessed were activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), pain intensity, geriatric depression scale, chronic medication use, and adverse events at six months. A cohort of 119 patients began cannabis treatment: the mean age was 79.3 ± 8.5 and 74 (62.2%) were female. Of the cohort, 43 (36.1%) experienced adverse effects due to cannabis use and 2 (1.7%) required medical attention. The mean ADL scores before and after treatment were 4.4 ± 1.8 and 4.5 ± 1.8, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.27), and the mean IADL scores before and after treatment were 4.1 ± 2.6 and 4.7 ± 3, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.02). We concluded that medical cannabis in older adults has a number of serious adverse events, but was not associated with a decrease in functional status, as illustrated by ADL and IADL scores after six months of continuous treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:25:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b7e4ef5bf5548ecbb93fa2b0ef84fe0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:25:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b7e4ef5bf5548ecbb93fa2b0ef84fe02023-11-19T15:45:48ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592023-10-011110269710.3390/biomedicines11102697Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older AdultsRan Abuhasira0Lihi Schwartz1Victor Novack2Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Be’er-Sheva 8410501, IsraelClalit Health Services, Department of Family Medicine, Dan-Petah Tikva District, Petah Tikva 5239530, IsraelClinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Be’er-Sheva 8410501, IsraelThe proportion of older adults using medical cannabis is rising. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of herbal medical cannabis on the functional status of older adults. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients aged 65 years or older that initiated cannabis treatment for different indications, mostly chronic non-cancer pain, during 2018–2020 in a specialized geriatric clinic. The outcomes assessed were activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), pain intensity, geriatric depression scale, chronic medication use, and adverse events at six months. A cohort of 119 patients began cannabis treatment: the mean age was 79.3 ± 8.5 and 74 (62.2%) were female. Of the cohort, 43 (36.1%) experienced adverse effects due to cannabis use and 2 (1.7%) required medical attention. The mean ADL scores before and after treatment were 4.4 ± 1.8 and 4.5 ± 1.8, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.27), and the mean IADL scores before and after treatment were 4.1 ± 2.6 and 4.7 ± 3, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.02). We concluded that medical cannabis in older adults has a number of serious adverse events, but was not associated with a decrease in functional status, as illustrated by ADL and IADL scores after six months of continuous treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/10/2697older adultsmedical cannabismarijuanafunctional statusopioids |
| spellingShingle | Ran Abuhasira Lihi Schwartz Victor Novack Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults Biomedicines older adults medical cannabis marijuana functional status opioids |
| title | Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults |
| title_full | Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults |
| title_short | Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults |
| title_sort | medical cannabis is not associated with a decrease in activities of daily living in older adults |
| topic | older adults medical cannabis marijuana functional status opioids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/10/2697 |
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