BACKGROUND: Data regarding marijuana (MJ) use among liver transplant (LT) candidates are limited. We set out to determine the incidence and pre- and post-LT outcomes of adult LT candidates with a self-reported history of MJ use. METHODS: Baseline clinical characteristics, waitlist, and post-LT outcomes of adult LT candidates from January 2010 to March 2017 were compared. RESULTS: Amongst 2,690 LT candidates, 630(23%) and 298(11%) reported a history of MJ use and use within the past 12 months, respectively. Although the proportion of MJ users increased over time(β=0.76, p=0.03), the proportion listed and transplanted did not change. Listing for LT increased with male (OR 1.24, 95%CI 11.01-1.52), MELD score (OR 1.08, 95%CI 1.01-1.15), HCC (OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.39-2.41) but decreased among MJ users (OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.50-0.91, p=0.01). The median time to listing was longer among MJ users compared to non-users (115 vs 87 days, p < 0.0005). Post-LT survival was similar in 83 MJ users and 306 non-users. CONCLUSION: The proportion of MJ users among LT candidates is increasing. MJ users have a greater burden of psychosocial issues which may contribute to longer evaluations and lower rate of LT listing. Post-LT survival was not impacted by self-reported MJ use history. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Data regarding marijuana (MJ) use among liver transplant (LT) candidates are limited. We set out to determine the incidence and pre- and post-LT outcomes of adult LT candidates with a self-reported history of MJ use. METHODS: Baseline clinical characteristics, waitlist, and post-LT outcomes of adult LT candidates from January 2010 to March 2017 were compared. RESULTS: Amongst 2,690 LT candidates, 630(23%) and 298(11%) reported a history of MJ use and use within the past 12 months, respectively. Although the proportion of MJ users increased over time(β=0.76, p=0.03), the proportion listed and transplanted did not change. Listing for LT increased with male (OR 1.24, 95%CI 11.01-1.52), MELD score (OR 1.08, 95%CI 1.01-1.15), HCC (OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.39-2.41) but decreased among MJ users (OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.50-0.91, p=0.01). The median time to listing was longer among MJ users compared to non-users (115 vs 87 days, p < 0.0005). Post-LT survival was similar in 83 MJ users and 306 non-users. CONCLUSION: The proportion of MJ users among LT candidates is increasing. MJ users have a greater burden of psychosocial issues which may contribute to longer evaluations and lower rate of LT listing. Post-LT survival was not impacted by self-reported MJ use history. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Entities:
Keywords:
and substance use disorder; liver disease; liver transplantation; marijuana; psychosocial evaluation