(PS5-B39) Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Pain Initiating Medical Cannabis Treatment

Background: Chronic pain is one the most common referring conditions for medical marijuana treatment and is associated with low health-related quality of life (HRQol). This study evaluated changes in HRQol across a number of health status domains, including bodily pain, from baseline to 3-months post-study entry among patients initiating medical marijuana treatment for chronic pain. 

Methods: A total of 159 adults (mean age = 52.7 years, SD = 14.6, 63.5% female, 96.9% White) with a chronic pain diagnosis who were attending their first appointment at one of three medical marijuana dispensaries in Pennsylvania participated in this observational, longitudinal study. Participants completed an assessment battery at baseline and 3-months post-study entry that included the Short-Form 36 (SF-36), a widely used measure of HRQoL. Paired samples t-tests evaluated changes in HRQol over time for each of the eight  health status domains measured by the SF-36. Participants also provided demographic information and permission for the research team to access their dispensary records for other study variables (i.e., reason for referral). 

Results:   Patients presenting with chronic pain reported significant improvements in HRQol from baseline to Month 3 across all subscales of the SF-36 including bodily pain (t(157) = -8.41, p < 0.001, d  = 0.67) , general health (t(156) = -2.42, p = 0.017, d = 0.19), physical functioning (t(157) = -4.18, p < 0.001, d = 0.33), emotional well-being (t(158) = -5.64, p < 0.001, d = 0.45), social functioning (t(157) = -5.82, p < 0.001, d = 0.46), energy/fatigue (t(158) = -5.52, p < 0.001, d = 0.44), role limitations due to physical problems (t(158) = -4.26, p < 0.001, d = 0.60), and role limitations due to emotional problems (t(157) = -2.89, p = 0.004, d = 0.22).

Conclusion: HrQol in patients with chronic pain rapidly and markedly improved across multiple health status domains following initiation of medical marijuana treatment. Future studies using rigorous experimental designs are needed to better understand the impact of medical marijuana treatment on HRQoL in patients with chronic pain.