RESUMEN
AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of cannabidiol (CBD) on healthcare resource utilization and determine the effect of CBD on seizure-related emergency departments (ED) and hospital admissions in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective longitudinal cohort study included patients ≥1â¯year on CBD, excluding participants in CBD clinical trials or on <6â¯months of CBD therapy. Demographics, antiseizure medications (ASM), ED and hospital admissions were collected from the electronic medical record. Co-primary outcomes included change in seizure-related ED and hospital admissions. Secondary outcomes included change in ASMs and total ED or hospital admissions. Co-primary outcomes were assessed using generalized linear modeling. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze all other variables. RESULTS: In the one-hundred total patients, there was no difference in either seizure-related ED visits (0.012 vs 0.011, pâ¯=â¯0.85) or hospital admissions per month (0.019 vs 0.021, pâ¯=â¯0.7). However, given the low percentage of the total cohort (nâ¯=â¯100) with either a seizure-related ED visits and hospital admissions (9% and 18%, respectively), a subgroup analysis was conducted. Those with seizure-related hospital admissions prior to CBD (nâ¯=â¯18) had significantly less seizure-related hospital admissions after initiation of CBD (23 admissions [0.104 per month] vs 15 admissions [0.055 per month], pâ¯=â¯0.007). CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of statistically significant difference in primary outcomes for the total cohort, CBD may have a potential for a clinically beneficial impact in real-world settings on those patients with prior seizure-related admissions, who are the highest utilizers of healthcare resources.
