Cannabis Users Were Less Likely to End up in ICU for Covid-19

A new study looking at the ICU admission rates of Covid-19 patients in hospitals has revealed that cannabis users were less likely to end up in the ICU. The study looked at two hospitals in Los Angeles and found both lower admission rates (12% vs. 31%) and shorter hospitalizations (4 days vs. 6 days) for regular cannabis users. It is not the first study to find benefits from cannabinoids.

A new study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research found that cannabis users experienced less severe Covid-19 cases in hospitals than non-cannabis users. Cannabis users had better outcomes, including reduced need for ICU admissions and intubation.

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Covid-19 Study Details

The study involved two hospitals in the Los Angeles area of ​​California. Of the 1,831 Covid-19 patients in the study, 69 patients reported regular use of cannabis, which was just 4% of all patients.

“The link between cannabis use and better Covid outcomes is reasonable,” the authors say. However, the authors also admit that their study was minimal and that any conclusions are only suggestions. The study authors analyzed patient data from the NIH Covid-19 Severity Scores database, including the need for oxygen supply, admission to the intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation, hospitalization length, and hospital death among cannabis and non-cannabis users.

Cannabis Users Outperformed Non-Users

“Cannabis users outperformed non-users, reflecting better overall outcomes, shorter hospitalization (4 days vs. 6 days), lower ICU admission rates (12% vs. 31%), and less need for mechanical ventilation (6% vs. 17%). ICU admissions were 12 percentage points lower, and intubation rates were six percentage points lower in cannabis users, ‘the study reads.

The study suggests that regular cannabis use may positively affect the course of Covid-19 in hospitalized patients. The authors hypothesize that the better outcomes may be due to the therapeutic properties, including the anti-inflammatory effects of specific cannabinoids.

“Cannabis users were more likely to have lower levels of inflammation on admission compared to non-users. This effect was sustained during the hospital stay, and cannabis users on discharge had lower markers of inflammation compared to non-users,” the study reads.

Covid-19 Study Demographics

The cannabis users participating in this study were typically younger, 62% male and 38% female, and the majority were white (48%), with 15% Black, 4% Asian, and 28% Hispanic. In addition, 20% of cannabis users are tobacco smokers compared to just 4% of all patients.

This study is not the first to look at the positive effects of cannabinoids on Covid-19, although it is the first to compare data from actual Covid patients who have been admitted to the hospital. One widely publicized study found that the cannabinoids CBGA and CBDA prevent infection and shorten the duration of the disease. Other research suggests that CBD alleviates Covid-19 symptoms and regenerates the lungs after the condition has passed.

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