What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC, Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Surgery in practice and science on June 1, 2026.

Combo drug use extends hospital stays in trauma patients

Q: What did this research study find?

This large study examined **120,951 trauma patients** from major U.S. hospitals between 2019-2023 to understand how combined use of *cannabinoids* and *cocaine* affects hospital outcomes. Using sophisticated statistical matching, researchers compared **12,116 pairs** of patients who tested positive

Combined Impact of Cannabinoids and Cocaine on Outcomes of Trauma Patients.

Surgery in practice and science • June 1, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This large study examined 120,951 trauma patients from major U.S. hospitals between 2019-2023 to understand how combined use of cannabinoids and cocaine affects hospital outcomes. Using sophisticated statistical matching, researchers compared 12,116 pairs of patients who tested positive for both drugs versus those using cannabinoids alone. The primary finding was reassuring: no difference in in-hospital mortality rates between the two groups (both at 2.2%), suggesting that the addition of cocaine to cannabinoid use does not increase the risk of death in hospitalized trauma patients.

However, the combination of cannabinoids and cocaine was associated with several complications during hospitalization. Patients using both substances experienced a longer hospital stay (5 days versus 4 days), higher rates of unplanned intubation (1.5% versus 1%), and increased ventilator-associated pneumonia (1% versus 0.7%). These findings suggest that while the combination doesn't increase mortality risk, it may complicate recovery and extend the clinical course, likely due to the combined effects of both drugs on respiratory and cardiovascular function during critical illness.

This research provides important information for trauma care providers and public health professionals tracking polypharmacy patterns in injured populations. Understanding how different substance combinations affect hospital outcomes helps clinicians optimize treatment strategies and manage complications more effectively. The findings also highlight the increasing complexity of caring for trauma patients with multiple drug exposures in their systems."

📄 Original Abstract

In recent years, the use of polypharmacy has surged. There is a gap in knowledge regarding the impact of pre-injury use of polypharmacy on outcomes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of cannabinoids (CANB) and cocaine (COC) on trauma patients' outcomes. The hypothesis is, no difference in-hospital mortality in patients who tested positive for CANB+COC versus those who only tested positive for CANB. The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) for 2019-2023 dataset was used. Patients' demography, clinical characteristics, injury type and severity, and outcomes were compared between patients who tested positive for CANB+COC and those who tested positive only for CANB. Propensity score matching methodology was used to obtain the results. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Out of 120,951 patients who qualified for the study, 12,116 pairs of patients were obtained from the propensity score matching process. Most of the baseline characteristics of the two groups, CANB+COC versus CANB, had no significant difference in age (years) (median [IQR]: 37 [28 - 51] vs. 32 [23 - 51]) or sex (male: 81% vs. 76.6%), ISS score (median [IQR]: 9 [5 - 17] vs. 10 [5 - 17]. Pair-matched analysis showed no significant difference in in-hospital mortality (2.2% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.86) but it showed a longer hospital length of stay (5 [5, 5] vs. 4 [4, 4], P < 0.0001), a higher event of unplanned intubation (1.5% versus 1%, P = 0.002) and a higher occurrence of ventilator associated pneumonia (1% versus 0.7%, P = 0.01) in patients who tested positive for CANB+COC versus CANB. No significant association was observed between the in-hospital mortality and combined use of, CANB+COC when compared to only CANB use. However, combined drug usage was associated with a longer length of hospital stay.