Medicinal cannabis linked to long-term benefits in health-related quality of life

The use of medicinal cannabis has been a topic of increasing interest and research in recent years, with many patients reporting positive outcomes in their health-related quality of life (HRQL) after being prescribed this treatment. A recent study published in the open-access journal PLOS One has shed light on the long-term benefits of medicinal cannabis for patients in Australia.

According to the study conducted by Margaret-Ann Tait and colleagues from The University of Sydney, patients who were prescribed medicinal cannabis experienced improvements in overall HRQL, fatigue, and sleep disturbance over a one-year period. Additionally, patients with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain also saw improvements in their respective health conditions over time.

The research into the therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis has been on the rise since the discovery of the analgesic properties found in the compounds of the cannabis plant. In response to this, advocacy groups in Australia successfully lobbied for legislative changes that allowed patients who were not responding to conventional treatments to access medicinal cannabis with a prescription from clinicians. As a result, more than one million new patients in Australia have received medicinal cannabis prescriptions for over 200 health conditions.

The study, known as the QUEST initiative (QUality of life Evaluation STudy), recruited adult patients with chronic health conditions who were newly prescribed medicinal cannabis oil between November 2020 and December 2021. Follow-up data was collected over a 12-month period to assess the maintenance of previously reported improvements seen at three months.

The results of the study showed that patients who were prescribed medicinal cannabis in Australia experienced sustained improvements in their overall HRQL, fatigue, pain, and sleep over the 12-month period. Patients with anxiety, depression, insomnia, or chronic pain diagnoses also showed improvements in their condition-specific symptoms over time. Additionally, patients with movement disorders reported improved HRQL, although there were no significant improvements in upper extremity function scores.

While the study did not include a control group, the findings suggest that prescribing medicinal cannabis to patients with chronic health conditions may lead to improvements in pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and overall HRQL. The authors of the study believe that these results contribute to the growing evidence base that can inform decision-making in clinical practice and at the policy level.

Overall, the study provides promising news for patients who have not responded to conventional medicines for their conditions. The long-term benefits of medicinal cannabis in improving HRQL and symptom management highlight its potential as a valuable treatment option for individuals with chronic health conditions.