The Medical Necessity for Medicinal Cannabis: Prospective, Observational Study Evaluating the Treatment in Cancer Patients on Supportive or Palliative Care

Table 3

Association between patient characteristics with cancer-related symptoms among long-term cannabis users.

	No. of patients	Symptom score 1st interview (median, range)	Symptom score 2nd interview (median, range)	Difference in symptoms score between groups, before treatment	Difference in symptoms score between groups, after treatment	𝑃 value
All patients	106	13 (4–30)	7 (0–20)			<0.001
Age:
≤30 years; 31–70 years; ≥71 years	19; 58; 29	11 (6–30); 13 (4–24); 13 (6–22)	4 (1–17); 7 (0–20); 8 (1–19)	0.88	0.06	<0.001; <0.001; <0.001
Gender:
Male	63	12 (6–30)	7 (0–20)	0.95	0.98	<0.001
Female	43	14 (4–21)	7 (1–19)
Oncology treatment aim:
Curative/adjuvant; Palliative	57; 49	11 (6–22); 13 (4–30)	5 (0–18); 7 (0–20)	0.15	0.052	<0.001; <0.001
Chemotherapy last 3 months:
Yes; No	79; 27	13 (4–30); 11 (6–24)	7 (0–20); 7 (0–18)	0.09	0.89	<0.001; <0.001
Radiotherapy last 3 months:
Yes; No	22; 84	15 (6–24); 12 (4–30)	9 (1–19); 7 (0–20)	0.03	0.2	<0.001; <0.001
Past cannabis smoking:
Yes; No	29; 77	12 (6–30); 13 (4–22)	5 (1–20); 8 (0–19)	0.3	0.057	<0.001; <0.001
Cigarette smoking:
Yes; No; In the past	25; 30; 51	13 (4–22); 13 (6–21); 13 (6–30)	8 (1–19); 6 (0–20); 9 (0–18)	0.35	0.29	<0.001; <0.001; <0.001
Mood disorders:
No; Low; Severe	6; 79; 21	13 (8–20); 12 (4–24); 16 (4–30)	10 (4–16); 6 (0–20); 9 (2–19)	0.001	0.06	<0.001; <0.001; <0.001
Weight loss:
Yes; No	58; 48	14 (4–30); 11 (6–20)	8 (0–19); 6 (1–20)	0.02	0.1	<0.001; <0.001
Memory loss:
Yes; No	23; 83	14 (6–30); 12 (4–24)	8 (0–19); 7 (0–20)	0.049	0.18	<0.001; <0.001
Pain:
Neuropathic; Nociceptive	24; 56	14 (6–30); 13 (6–24)	7 (2–19); 8 (0–20)	0.38	0.71	<0.001; <0.001
Distress thermometer:
1–4; 5–7; 8–10	34; 36; 36	12 (6–21); 12 (4–24); 16 (6–30)	6 (1–16); 7 (1–20); 9 (0–19)	0.002	0.055	<0.001; <0.001; <0.001
Symptom score:
4–10; 11–16; ≥17	31; 53; 22	8 (4–10); 13 (11–16); 20 (17–30)	4 (1–20); 7 (0–19); 12 (3–19)		<0.001	<0.001; <0.001; <0.001