Ghasemiesfe M, et al. - The relationship between marijuana use and respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and obstructive lung disease among adolescents and adults were examined through a systematic review and meta-analysis. As per low-strength evidence, smoking marijuana was correlated with a cough, sputum production, and wheezing. Insufficient evidence was found on the connection between marijuana use and obstructive lung disease and pulmonary function.

Methods

• From 1 January 1973 to 30 April 2018, researchers searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library.
• Study selection included observational and interventional studies published in English that reported pulmonary outcomes of adolescents and adults who used marijuana.
• For this analysis, 4 reviewers independently extracted study characteristics and assessed risk of bias.
• In addition, 3 reviewers assessed strength of evidence.
• Finally, studies of similar design with low or moderate risk of bias and sufficient data were pooled.

Results

• Twenty-two studies were involved in this investigation.
• A pooled analysis of 2 prospective studies demonstrated that marijuana use was correlated with an increased risk for cough (risk ratio [RR], 2.04 [95% CI, 1.02 to 4.06]) and sputum production (RR, 3.84 [CI, 1.62 to 9.07]).
• Pooled analysis of cross-sectional studies (1 low and 3 moderate risk of bias) demonstrated that marijuana use was correlated with cough (RR, 4.37 [CI, 1.71 to 11.19]), sputum production (RR, 3.40 [CI, 1.99 to 5.79]), wheezing (RR, 2.83 [CI, 1.89 to 4.23]), and dyspnea (RR, 1.56 [CI, 1.33 to 1.83]).
• Insufficient data was found in regard to pulmonary function and obstructive lung disease.