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Cannabis does not improve breathlessness during exercise in patients with advanced COPD, conclude KPE, PATH researchers

Published: 31 July 2018

American ThoracicInhaled vaporized cannabis does not appear to improve or worsen exercise performance and activity-related breathlessness in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a randomized controlled trial published online in Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

The study, "Effect of Vaporized Cannabis on Exertional Breathlessness and Exercise Endurance in Advanced COPD: A Randomized Controlled Trial," was led by Sara Abdallah, PhD candidate in exercise physiology with our Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE). Co-authors included KPE professor Dennis Jensen, Director of the McGill Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health (PATH); Ben Smith (PATH), Jean Bourbeau (PATH), and Michelle Moore (KPE student).

"Senior study author Dennis Jensen, PhD, associate professor of kinesiology and physical education and a scientist in the Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program at McGill University, said that trial results may not be generalizable because the number of participants was small and represented a relatively homogenous group of patients with stable, but advanced, COPD," wrote the report published by the American Thoracic Society in part. Numerous media outlets picked up the story including:

To read the study, published July 27 in Annals of the American Thoracic Society, please click here.

 

 

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