Background Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease usually affecting the lungs, although cardiac morbidity may be common. The risk of these outcomes and the characteristics that predict them remain largely unknown. This study investigates the epidemiology of heart failure, atrioventricular block, and ventricular tachycardia among patients with and without sarcoidosis. Methods and Results We identified California residents aged ≥21 years using the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development ambulatory surgery, emergency, or inpatient databases from 2005 to 2015. The risk of sarcoidosis on incident heart failure, atrioventricular block, and ventricular tachycardia were each determined. Linkage to the Social Security Death Index was used to ascertain overall mortality. Among 22 527 964 California residents, 19 762 patients with sarcoidosis (0.09%) were identified. Sarcoidosis was the strongest predictor of heart failure (hazard ratio [HR], 11.2; 95% CI, 10.7-11.7), atrioventricular block (HR, 117.7; 95% CI, 103.3-134.0), and ventricular tachycardia (HR, 26.1; 95% CI, 24.2-28.1) identified among all risk factors. The presence of any cardiac involvement best predicted each outcome. Approximately 22% (95% CI, 18%-26%) of the relationship between sarcoidosis and increased mortality was explained by the presence of at least 1 of these cardiovascular outcomes. Conclusions The magnitude of risk associated with sarcoidosis as a predictor of heart failure, atrioventricular block, and ventricular tachycardia, exceeds all established risk factors. Surveillance for and anticipation of these outcomes among patients with sarcoidosis is indicated, and consideration of a sarcoidosis diagnosis may be prudent among patients with heart failure, atrioventricular block, or ventricular tachycardia.

Objective

To assess the effect of cannabis legalisation on health effects and healthcare utilisation in Colorado (CO), the first state to legalise recreational cannabis, when compared with two control states, New York (NY) and Oklahoma (OK).

Design

We used the 2010 to 2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilisation Project (HCUP) inpatient databases to compare changes in rates of healthcare utilisation and diagnoses in CO versus NY and OK.

Setting

Population-based, inpatient.

Participants

HCUP state-wide data comprising over 28 million individuals and over 16 million hospitalisations across three states.

Main outcome measures

We used International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Edition codes to assess changes in healthcare utilisation specific to various medical diagnoses potentially treated by or exacerbated by cannabis. Diagnoses were classified based on weight of evidence from the National Academy of Science (NAS). Negative binomial models were used to compare rates of admissions between states.

Results

In CO compared with NY and OK, respectively, cannabis abuse hospitalisations increased (risk ratio (RR) 1.27, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.28 and RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.17; both p<0.0005) post-legalisation. In CO, there was a reduction in total admissions but only when compared with OK (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.98, p<0.0005). Length of stay and costs did not change significantly in CO compared with NY or OK. Post-legalisation changes most consistent with NAS included an increase in motor vehicle accidents, alcohol abuse, overdose injury and a reduction in chronic pain admissions (all p<0.05 compared with each control state).

Conclusions

Recreational cannabis legalisation is associated with neutral effects on healthcare utilisation. In line with previous evidence, cannabis liberalisation is linked to an increase in motor vehicle accidents, alcohol abuse, overdose injuries and a decrease in chronic pain admissions. Such population-level effects may help guide future decisions regarding cannabis use, prescription and policy.