Time-Trends in Hospitalizations with Cannabis use Disorder: A 17-Year U.S. National Study

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether cannabis use disorder (abuse or dependence) hospitalizations are increasing over time and examine the variables associated with the outcomes of cannabis use disorder hospitalizations. Methods: This study examined the rates of hospitalizations with cannabis use disorder and associated healthcare utilization using the U.S. National Inpatient Sample data from 1998 to 2014. Adjusted logistic regression analyses assessed the association of demographic, comorbidity and hospital characteristics with healthcare utilization (total hospital charges, length of hospital stays, discharge to a non-home setting) during the index hospitalization for cannabis use disorder. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: There were an estimated 5,601,382 hospitalizations with cannabis use disorder (primary or secondary diagnosis). The rates of hospitalization (/100,000 admissions) for cannabis use disorder increased 3.7-fold from 439/100,000 admissions in 1998–2000 to 1,631/100,000 admissions in 2013–2014. In the adjusted analysis, the following factors were associated with worse healthcare utilization outcomes for cannabis use disorder hospitalizations: older age; Deyo–Charlson index score of 2 or higher; male sex; insurance payer other than private; higher income; hospital region; an urban hospital; and a medium to large hospital bed size. Conclusions: Rising hospitalization rate with cannabis use disorder from 1998 to 2014 is concerning. Our study identified independent variables associated with a higher risk of poor utilization outcomes of cannabis use disorder hospitalizations. Healthcare policies should focus on reducing the burden of cannabis use disorder hospitalizations. High-risk groups of people with cannabis use disorder with the worst outcomes should be targeted to reduce associated utilization.