Largest study of UK medical cannabis patients shows improvements in quality of life

New findings from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry show a significant improvement in health-related quality of life, following the prescribing of cannabis-based medicines.

The international peer reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research has published new data from The UK Medical Cannabis Registry on the largest group of patients in the UK treated with medical cannabis since the change in law in 2018.

Over 300 patients were included in the final analysis, detailing medium-term quality of life and safety outcomes in patients prescribed cannabis-based medicines by specialists at Sapphire Medical Clinics.

Patient-reported outcomes showed statistically significant improvements in health-related quality of life in patients at one, three, and six-months following treatment, building on data from Canada and New Zealand.

The most common primary diagnoses were chronic pain and neuropathic pain. 

Across all patients  the average anxiety score before treatment, was consistent with a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder. At follow up, the average score reduced to below clinically relevant levels.

This builds on previously published data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry which demonstrated clinically significant reduction in anxiety with a specific cohort of patients with generalised anxiety disorder.

However, approximately one in four patients with a chronic illness will experience symptoms of anxiety within the previous two weeks. This suggests that in addition to condition-specific changes, medical cannabis may also affect the experience of symptoms that often trouble those with chronic health problems.

In addition, patients also experienced improvements in self-reported sleep quality, although due to the study design, it was unable to definitively prove that medical cannabis was the cause.

Fifty five per cent of participants were male, with an average age of 45.

A minority of patients (36 per cent) used cannabis daily before treatment. 

Adverse event incidence was 30 per cent, with nausea being the most frequent (four per cent).

The Sapphire Access Scheme recently expanded to offer a further 2,000 patients’ affordable access to medical cannabis consultations.

The scheme now allows patients to be included for free in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry in addition to receiving access to appointments with experts in chronic conditions and medical cannabis for £50 per appointment.

The Registry, which is the first and largest, such database in the UK was set up by clinicians at Sapphire Medical, a multi-award-winning medical cannabis clinic, and the highest CQC-rated clinic of its kind.

Dr Simon Erridge, head of research and access at Sapphire Medical Clinics, commented: “Real-World Evidence of patient safety and outcomes of patients prescribed medical cannabis is expanding rapidly. Whilst we now can identify condition-specific responses, understanding how all patients are responding to treatment, and considering the very wide range of conditions that includes, is important as we review holistically the safety and efficacy of this treatment.” 

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The publication is available freely via open access agreements here