Cannabis use and the prevalence of current asthma among adolescents and adults in the United States

Authors

Renee D. Goodwin, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, The City University of New York, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
Chaoqun Zhou, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
Kevin D. Silverman, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, The City University of New York, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States of America.
Deepa Rastogi, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Luisa N. Borrell, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, The City University of New York, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States of America.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-1-2024

Journal

Preventive medicine

Volume

179

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107827

Keywords

Epidemiology; Marijuana; Respiratory disease; Tobacco; Youth

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Cannabis use has increased among adolescents and adults in the United States (US) in recent years. Few data are available on the prevalence of asthma by frequency of cannabis use. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of asthma by frequency of past 30-day cannabis use among US individuals. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a nationally representative, annual cross-sectional survey of US individuals aged 12 and older in the United States (N = 32,893). Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between frequency of any cannabis and/or blunt (i.e., cannabis smoked in a hollowed-out cigar) use in the past 30 days and current asthma, adjusting for demographics and current cigarette smoking. RESULTS: Current asthma was more common among US individuals who reported cannabis use in the past 30-days, relative to those who did not (9.8% vs. 7.4%, p < 0.0001). The odds of asthma was significantly greater among individuals reporting cannabis use 20-30 days/month (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.67, 95% CI:1.21, 2.31), blunt use 6-15 and 20-30 days/month (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI:1.1, 3.2; AOR = 2.2, 95% CI:1.4, 3.6), respectively, than among those without. A positive linear relationship was observed between frequency of a) cannabis use (p < 0.0001) and b) blunt use (p < 0.0001) and current asthma prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a dose-response relationship between frequency of current cannabis use and the prevalence of current asthma in the US individuals.

APA Citation

Goodwin, Renee D.; Zhou, Chaoqun; Silverman, Kevin D.; Rastogi, Deepa; and Borrell, Luisa N., "Cannabis use and the prevalence of current asthma among adolescents and adults in the United States" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 4433.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/4433

Department

Pediatrics