Trends in hospitalizations for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in Canada, 2016-17 to 2024-25

To evaluate trends in CHS hospitalizations in Canada, including their frequency and individual characteristics.

This study utilized data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's Discharge Abstract Database to perform descriptive data analysis and employed JoinPoint Trend Analysis Software to analyze annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) in hospitalizations for CHS. The main outcome of interest was rate of hospitalization for CHS between fiscal years (FY) 2016-17 and FY 2024-25 (April 2016-March 2025).

There were 7,533 records involving CHS identified in the study period. Overall, mean (SD) patient age was 32.4 (13.1) years, with 3,892 individuals (50.8%) aged 25-44 years, 3,923 (52.1%) males, and 4,205 (55.8%) admitted in Ontario. Overall rates of CHS hospitalizations increased almost 2.5-fold during the nine-year study period, from 1.5 records per 100,000 population in FY 2016-17 to 3.8 per 100,000 in FY 2024-25. Joinpoint analysis identified statistically significant increases across the whole study period (AAPC = 13.1, p-value = < 0.001), and in both males (AAPC = 11.5, p-value = < 0.001) and females (AAPC = 14.7, p-value = < 0.001). For most subpopulations, rates increased significantly from FY 2016-17 to FY 2020-21, with stabilization thereafter. Rates were generally highest among the 20-24 age group for most years. The most rapid increase was noted among individuals aged 45-64 years between FY 2016-17 and FY 2020-21 (APC = 27.4, p-value = 0.006). Over the whole study period, rates rose continually for two age groups, youth (APC/AAPC = 10.8, p-value = 0.02) and older adults (APC/AAPC = 16.3, p-value = 0.01).

This repeated cross-sectional study found a significant rise in CHS hospitalizations in Canada between FY 2016-17 and FY 2020-21, followed by a period of stabilization, highlighting key trends in an important cannabis-related health outcome.