University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Health Policy

Prenatal Cannabis Use and Neonatal Outcomes A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Author/s:

Jamie O Lo, Chelsea K Ayers, Snehapriya Yeddala, Beth Shaw, Shannon Robalino, Rachel Ward, Devan Kansagara

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Importance: Prenatal cannabis use continues to increase, and cannabis remains the most commonly used illegal substance in pregnancy. Accumulating evidence suggests potential adverse effects on fetal and neonatal outcomes following cannabis use in pregnancy.

Objective: To update a living systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a timely understanding regarding cannabis use in pregnancy and fetal and neonatal outcomes.

Data sources: The previous review was updated by searching bibliographic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Global Health, and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from November 1, 2021, through April 4, 2024.

Study selection: Cohort or case-control studies comparing pregnancies with and without prenatal cannabis use on prespecified fetal or neonatal outcomes with adjustment for confounders, such as co-use of tobacco products, were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, with disagreements resolved through discussion.

Data extraction and synthesis: Included studies were extracted by 1 reviewer and confirmed by a second. Risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects meta-analyses of unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were performed for all primary outcomes. Results were synthesized using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.

Main outcomes and measures: Primary outcomes were preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks of gestation), small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g), and perinatal mortality.

Results: For this update, 8 new studies with 1 709 998 participants were added, for a total of 51 studies synthesized (N = 21 146 938). From meta-analyses of adjusted effect sizes, moderate-certainty evidence indicated that cannabis use in pregnancy was associated with increased odds of LBW (20 studies; OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.41-2.18), PTB (20 studies; OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.26-1.83), and SGA (12 studies; OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.36-1.81), and low-certainty evidence indicated that it was associated with greater odds of perinatal mortality (6 studies; OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07-1.55). Previously, the evidence was rated as very low or low certainty.

Conclusions and relevance: Cannabis use in pregnancy was associated with greater odds of PTB, SGA, and LBW even after adjusting for co-use of tobacco products, and confidence in these findings increased from low in the prior review to moderate in the current meta-analysis. The findings of this study may help inform patient counseling and future public health policies.

Keywords

Pregnancy prenatal cannabis cannabis cannabis use infants

Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Update of the PTSD-Repository Evidence Base

Author/s:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Structured Abstract

Objectives. Identify and abstract data from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to update the PTSD Trials Standardized Data Repository (PTSD-Repository) with data on PTSD and mental health, including suicide-related outcomes and substance use.

Data sources. We searched PTSDpubs, Ovid® MEDLINE®, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycINFO®, Embase®, CINAHL®, and Scopus® for eligible RCTs published from 1980 to May 22, 2020.

Review methods. In consultation with the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), we updated the PTSD-Repository by expanding inclusion criteria to RCTs targeting comorbid PTSD/substance use disorder (SUD) and adding data elements. The primary publication for each RCT was abstracted; data and citations from secondary publications (i.e., companion papers) appear in the same record. We assessed risk of bias (ROB) for all studies in the PTSD-Repository. We undertook an exploratory assessment of an expanded ROB system developed with guidance from a Technical Expert Panel and NCPTSD, which was pilot tested on a small subset of studies.

Results. We identified 47 new RCTs of interventions for PTSD and 21 RCTs for comorbid PTSD/SUD, resulting in 389 included studies published from 1988 to 2020. Psychotherapy interventions were the most common (63%), followed by pharmacologic interventions (25%). Most studies were conducted in the United States (62%) and had sample sizes ranging from 25 to 99 participants (60%). Approximately half of studies enrolled community participants (55%), and most were conducted in the outpatient setting (72%). Studies typically enrolled participants with a mix of trauma types (53%). Most RCTs (60%) were rated as having a medium ROB, and only 6 percent were rated as having a low ROB. Our pilot testing of an expanded ROB assessment tool emphasized more detailed assessment of elements, including: (1) methods for managing missing data, including both dropout from treatment and missing measurements (i.e., loss to followup); (2) differential assessment of subjective and objective outcomes; and (3) consideration of a five-category overall rating system.

Conclusions. The PTSD-Repository is a comprehensive database of data from PTSD trials. The PTSD-Repository allows clinical, research, education, and policy stakeholders to understand current research on treatment effectiveness and harms, and enable informed decisions about future research, mental health policy, and clinical care priorities. This report updates the studies and variables included in the PTSD-Repository to include recently published trials, interventions targeting comorbid PTSD/SUD, variables related to comorbidities such as suicide and SUDs, and ROB assessment.

Keywords

PTSD