SynthesisAge and ageing2024
Adverse events caused by cannabinoids in middle aged and older adults for all indications: a meta-analysis of incidence rate difference.
Synthesis in Age and ageing, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Exploring the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of medical cannabinoids in ischemic stroke: a systematic meta-analysis with bibliometric mapping of cerebral ischemia research.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Pooled it
- Cannabis Use Among People Aged 65 and Older: Results From an Intercept Survey in New York City.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2026Article
- Pharmacovigilance in medical cannabis therapy among physicians in Poland: pharmacovigilance knowledge, ADR reporting practice and cannabis-related safety reporting.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Prevalence of Self-Reported Adverse Effects to Cannabis by Older Canadians: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.Drugs & aging · 2025Article
- UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An Updated Analysis of Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products for Multiple Sclerosis.Medical cannabis and cannabinoidsArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCannabinoid-based medicines (CBMs) are being used widely in older people. However, information on the incidence of adverse events (AEs) is limited.
objectiveTo quantify the incidence rate difference (IRD) of AEs in middle aged and older adults of age ≥50 years receiving CBMs and also examine associations with weekly doses.
designSystematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov (1st Jan 1990-12th June 2023).
methodsWe included randomised clinical trials (RCTs) using CBMs with mean participant age ≥50 years for medicinal purposes for all clinical indications. Paired reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and appraised risk of bias. We estimated pooled effect-sizes IRD under the random-effects model.
resultsData from 58 RCTs (37 moderate-high quality studies, pooled n = 6611, mean age range 50-87 years, 50% male, n = 3450 receiving CBMs) showed that compared with controls, the incidence of all-cause and treatment-related AEs attributable to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing CBMs were: THC alone [IRD:18.83(95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.47-55.79) and 16.35(95% CI, 1.25-48.56)] respectively; THC:cannabidiol (CBD) combination [IRD:19.37(95% CI, 4.24-45.47) and 11.36(95% CI, 2.55-26.48)] respectively. IRDs of serious AEs, withdrawals and deaths were not significantly greater for CBMs containing THC with or without CBD. THC dose-dependently increased the incidence of dry mouth, dizziness/lightheadedness, mobility/balance/coordination difficulties, dissociative/thinking/perception problems and somnolence/drowsiness. The interaction of weekly THC:CBD doses played a role in mostly neurological, psychiatric and cardiac side-effects.
conclusionsAlthough CBMs in general are safe and acceptable in middle aged and older adults, one needs to be mindful of certain common dose-dependent side-effects of THC-containing CBMs.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.