RATIONALE: Given the inconclusive science on the long-term effects of marijuana exposure on lung function, the increasing tetrahydrocannabinol composition of marijuana over time, and the increasing legal accessibility of the substance, continued investigation is needed. OBJECTIVES: To determine the independent association between recent and chronic marijuana smoke exposure with spirometric parameters of lung function and symptoms of respiratory health in a large cohort of U.S. adults. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of U.S. adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles from 2007-2008 and 2009-2010, using the data from standardized spirometry and survey questions performed during these years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In the combined 2007-2010 cohort, 59.1% replied that they had used marijuana at least once, and 12.2% had used in the past month. For each additional day of marijuana use in the prior month, there were no changes in percent predicted FEV1 (0.002 ± 0.04%; P = 0.9), but there was an associated increase in percent predicted FVC (0.13 ± 0.03%, P = 0.0001) and decrease in the FEV1/FVC ratio (-0.1 ± 0.04%; P < 0.0001). In multivariable regressions, 1-5 and 6-20 joint-years of marijuana use were not associated with an FEV1/FVC less than 70% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7-1.6, P = 0.8, and OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.8-1.8, P = 0.4, respectively), whereas over 20 joint-years was associated with an FEV1/FVC less than 70% (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.1-3.9; P = 0.02). For each additional marijuana joint-year smoked, there was no associated change in the mean percent predicted FEV1 (0.02 ± 0.02%; P = 1.00), an increase in percent predicted FVC (0.07 ± 0.02%; P = 0.004), and a decrease in FEV1/FVC (-0.03 ± 0.01%; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In a large cross-section of U.S. adults, cumulative lifetime marijuana use, up to 20 joint-years, is not associated with adverse changes in spirometric measures of lung health. Although greater than 20 joint-years of cumulative marijuana exposure was associated with a twofold increased odds of a FEV1/FVC less than 70%, this was the result of an increase in FVC, rather than a disproportional decrease in FEV1 as is typically associated with obstructive lung diseases.
RATIONALE: Given the inconclusive science on the long-term effects of marijuana exposure on lung function, the increasing tetrahydrocannabinol composition of marijuana over time, and the increasing legal accessibility of the substance, continued investigation is needed. OBJECTIVES: To determine the independent association between recent and chronic marijuana smoke exposure with spirometric parameters of lung function and symptoms of respiratory health in a large cohort of U.S. adults. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of U.S. adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles from 2007-2008 and 2009-2010, using the data from standardized spirometry and survey questions performed during these years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In the combined 2007-2010 cohort, 59.1% replied that they had used marijuana at least once, and 12.2% had used in the past month. For each additional day of marijuana use in the prior month, there were no changes in percent predicted FEV1 (0.002 ± 0.04%; P = 0.9), but there was an associated increase in percent predicted FVC (0.13 ± 0.03%, P = 0.0001) and decrease in the FEV1/FVC ratio (-0.1 ± 0.04%; P < 0.0001). In multivariable regressions, 1-5 and 6-20 joint-years of marijuana use were not associated with an FEV1/FVC less than 70% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7-1.6, P = 0.8, and OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.8-1.8, P = 0.4, respectively), whereas over 20 joint-years was associated with an FEV1/FVC less than 70% (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.1-3.9; P = 0.02). For each additional marijuana joint-year smoked, there was no associated change in the mean percent predicted FEV1 (0.02 ± 0.02%; P = 1.00), an increase in percent predicted FVC (0.07 ± 0.02%; P = 0.004), and a decrease in FEV1/FVC (-0.03 ± 0.01%; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In a large cross-section of U.S. adults, cumulative lifetime marijuana use, up to 20 joint-years, is not associated with adverse changes in spirometric measures of lung health. Although greater than 20 joint-years of cumulative marijuana exposure was associated with a twofold increased odds of a FEV1/FVC less than 70%, this was the result of an increase in FVC, rather than a disproportional decrease in FEV1 as is typically associated with obstructive lung diseases.
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Authors: R J Hancox; R Poulton; M Ely; D Welch; D R Taylor; C R McLachlan; J M Greene; T E Moffitt; A Caspi; M R Sears Journal: Eur Respir J Date: 2009-08-13 Impact factor: 16.671
Authors: G Barisione; E Crimi; S Bartolini; R Saporiti; F Copello; R Pellegrino; V Brusasco Journal: Eur Respir J Date: 2009-02-05 Impact factor: 16.671
Authors: Madeline A Morris; Sean R Jacobson; Gregory L Kinney; Donald P Tashkin; Prescott G Woodruff; Eric A Hoffman; Richard E Kanner; Christopher B Cooper; M Brad Drummond; R Graham Barr; Elizabeth C Oelsner; Barry J Make; MeiLan K Han; Nadia N Hansel; Wanda K O'Neal; Russell P Bowler Journal: Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis Date: 2018-01-24
Authors: Cecilia T Costiniuk; Zahra Saneei; Syim Salahuddin; Joseph Cox; Jean-Pierre Routy; Sergio Rueda; Sara J Abdallah; Dennis Jensen; Bertrand Lebouché; Marie-Josée Brouillette; Marina Klein; Jason Szabo; Charles Frenette; Andreas Giannakis; Mohammad-Ali Jenabian Journal: Cannabis Cannabinoid Res Date: 2019-09-23