To investigate the association of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) with new diagnoses of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a young adult cohort.
Using the TriNetX database, we identified patients aged 18-34 and stratified by sex and CUD diagnosis into cohorts. Propensity score matching was utilized on demographics and variables potentially affecting LUTS. The primary outcomes were 5-year risks of new onset lower urinary tract diagnoses, including all-cause LUTS, dysuria, pelvic/perineal pain, overactive bladder (OAB), and urinary tract infection (UTI), among patients with CUD compared to controls.
We identified 101,761 and 67,110 matched pairs of males and females, respectively. At 5-year follow-up, CUD was associated with a higher risk of new onset of all-cause LUTS in males (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.60-1.80, p<0.01) and females (RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.73-1.89, p<0.01) compared to controls. Increased risks of dysuria, pelvic/perineal pain, and UTI were observed in both male and female CUD patients compared to controls (all p<0.01). CUD was not associated with OAB in either males or females.
In a cohort of young adults, CUD was associated with a greater risk of developing LUTS in both men and women. Further research is needed to define the impact of cannabinoids on lower urinary tract function.
Urology. 2026 Jun 18 [Epub ahead of print]
Devin M Dishong, Emma Giarracco, Aurora J Grutman, Jack A Campbell, Andrew T Gabrielson, Andrew J Cohen
Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: ., Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.