Cannabis Dependence or Abuse in Kidney Transplantation: Implications for Posttransplant Outcomes.

BACKGROUND Cannabis is categorized as an illicit drug in most US states, but legalization for medical indications is increasing. Policies and guidance regarding cannabis use in transplant patients remain controversial. METHODS We examined a database linking national kidney transplant records (n=52,689) with Medicare claims to identify diagnoses of cannabis dependence or abuse (CDOA) and associations (adjusted hazard ratio, 95% LCL aHR95% UCL) with graft, patient and other clinical outcomes. RESULTS CDOA was diagnosed in only 0.5% (n=254) and 0.3% (n=163) of kidney transplant recipients in the years before and after transplant, respectively. Patients with pretransplant CDOA were more likely to be aged 19-30 and black race, and less likely to be obese, college-educated, and employed. After multivariate and propensity adjustment, CDOA in the year before transplant was not associated with death or graft failure in the year after transplant, but was associated with posttransplant psychosocial problems such as alcohol abuse, other drug abuse, noncompliance, schizophrenia and depression. Further, CDOA in the first year posttransplant was associated with an approximately 2-fold increased risk of death-censored graft failure (aHR 1.592.293.32), all-cause graft loss (aHR 1.502.092.91), and death (aHR 1.061.793.04) in the subsequent 2 years. Posttransplant CDOA was also associated with cardiovascular, pulmonary, and psychosocial problems, and with events such as accidents and fractures. CONCLUSIONS While associations likely, in part, reflect associated conditions or behaviors, clinical diagnosis of CDOA in the year after transplant appears to have prognostic implications for allograft and patient outcomes. Recipients with posttransplant CDOA warrant focused monitoring and support.