Cannabis use following bariatric surgery is associated with anxiety and maladaptive eating.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding the association of cannabis use with outcomes after bariatric surgery. As such, it is challenging to know how to counsel patients using cannabis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine whether postsurgical cannabis use was associated with psychiatric symptoms and maladaptive eating among individuals up to 4 years after bariatric surgery. SETTING: Single health system. METHODS: All patients who underwent bariatric surgery over a 4-year period were invited to participate. Participants (N = 765) completed questionnaires online regarding postsurgical cannabis use, psychiatric symptoms, and maladaptive eating. RESULTS: Any cannabis use after bariatric surgery was associated with increased likelihood of having elevated symptoms of anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 1.88, P = .003; 37.8% versus 24.4%), increased likelihood of grazing behaviors (OR = 1.77, P = .01; 71.2% versus 58.2%), and higher scores for eating in response to depression (P = .01; 12.13 versus 10.75). Weekly cannabis use was associated with loss of control eating (OR = 1.81, P = .04; 37.2% versus 24.7%), binge eating (OR = 2.16, P = .03; 20.0% versus 10.4%), and night eating behaviors (OR = 2.11, P = .01; 40.0% versus 24.0%). Cannabis use was not associated with depression (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis use after bariatric surgery was associated with anxiety symptoms and engaging in maladaptive eating behaviors. Frequent cannabis use (i.e., ≥1 per week) was associated with additional types of maladaptive eating. Clinicians involved in presurgical and postsurgical care may want to counsel patients currently using cannabis, especially those who are engaging in frequent use.

Post-surgical cannabis use is associated with weight loss among individuals up to 4 years after bariatric surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Although cannabis is known to stimulate appetite, it is not clear whether cannabis use may impact weight loss outcomes following bariatric surgery. Although some work has suggested that pre-surgical cannabis use is not associated with post-surgical weight loss, the role of post-surgical cannabis use has not yet been examined. The purpose of this study was to measure pre- and post-surgical cannabis use and determine whether cannabis use was associated with weight loss outcomes following bariatric surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent bariatric surgery over a 4-year period at a single health care system were invited to complete a survey regarding pre- and post-surgical cannabis use and report their current weight. Pre-surgical weight and BMI were extracted from medical records to calculate change in BMI (ΔBMI), percent total weight loss (%TWL), percent excess weight loss (%EWL), whether participants experienced a successful weight loss outcome, and whether participants had weight recurrence. RESULTS: Among all participants (N = 759), 10.7% and 14.5% engaged in pre- and post-surgical cannabis use, respectively. Pre-surgical cannabis use was not associated with any weight loss outcomes (p > 0.05). Any post-surgical cannabis use was associated with lower %EWL (p = 0.04) and greater likelihood of weight recurrence (p = 0.04). Weekly cannabis use was associated with lower %EWL (p = 0.003), lower %TWL (p = 0.04), and a lower likelihood of having a successful weight loss outcome (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Although pre-surgical cannabis use may not predict weight loss outcomes, post-surgical cannabis was associated with poorer weight loss outcomes. Frequent use (i.e., weekly) may be especially problematic. Providers should consider screening patients for cannabis use and educate them about the potential impact of postoperative cannabis use on weight loss following bariatric surgery.

Using two tools to identify Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIM) in elderly patients in Southern Chile.

OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the prevalence of prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) identified using the Beers and STOPP criteria; and to determine the clinical variables related with the prescription of PIMs in older adults. METHODS: An observational study of 250 patients aged 65 years or older was conducted in a large teaching hospital. Beers (2012) and STOPP (2008) criteria were utilized to identify PIMs. Data on age, sex, admission and discharge dates, diagnoses, and medications prescribed were obtained from medical records. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine patient variables related with the prescription of PIMs. KEY FINDINGS: Using Beers criteria, 375 PIMs were identified in 198 patients. 32% of these patients were prescribed one PIM, 20% were prescribed two PIMs, and 48% were prescribed more than two PIMs. Using STOPP criteria, 148 PIMs were identified in 120 patients. 41% of these patients were prescribed one PIM, 51% were prescribed two PIMs, and 8% were prescribed more than two PIMs. An association between PIM prescribing and polypharmacy was detected with both criteria. After adjusting for confounding variables, the prescription of Beers-identified PIMs was significantly associated with patients older than 80 (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.13-7.89) and with length of hospital stay of more than 15days (OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.20-6.44). CONCLUSION: These two criteria showed that the prescription of PIMs is prevalent in hospitalized elderly patients. It may be beneficial to educate healthcare teams about these criteria to reduce the prescription of PIMs.