Patient-reported outcomes in chronic diseases under treatment with cannabis medicines : Analysis of the results of the Copeia survey

Abstract

The survey of Copeia captured early 2022 patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in Germany under cannabis medicinal product (CAM) therapy, with particular attention to symptoms, symptom changes, indications, side effects, dosages, and cost bearers. This study investigated the question of whether associations emerge from the results that could play arole in the indication and treatment monitoring of CAM in chronically ill patients. Astandardized questionnaire was administered online nationwide in dialogue form over a15-week period to collect itemized symptoms and PRO. Recruitment was supported by pharmacies, prescribing physicians, and patient associations. Inclusion criteria included physician-prescribed CAM therapy. Of 1582 participants, 1030 data sets (65%) could be completely analyzed. There was aheterogeneous patient population, whose common feature was disease chronicity. The frequency distribution of symptoms showed ahomogeneous pattern for the respective indications, in which the most frequent six (pain 71%, sleep disturbance 64%, stress/tension 52%, inner restlessness 52%, depressive mood 44% and muscle tension 43%) seem to have aspecial significance. According to subjective assessment, quality of life improved significantly in 84% of all participating patients. Asymptom matrix (SMX) composed of different symptoms seems to play aspecial role in CAM therapy to improve the quality of life of chronically ill patients, regardless of the underlying disease. The SMX could contribute to the identification of an indication and to targeted treatment monitoring.