Clinical Characteristics and Associated Factors in Mexican Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

Abstract

Background/Aims Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) are emerging gastroduodenal disorders with a growing prevalence. However, little is known about their prevalence and clinical characteristics in Latin American populations, particularly in Mexico. This study aims to explore the clinical presentation of CVS and CHS in Mexico. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 medical centers across Mexico, involving patients diagnosed with CVS or CHS based on the Rome IV criteria. Data collected included sociodemographic variables, substance use, comorbidities, and clinical characteristics, with a specific focus on the relationship between substance use, particularly cannabis, and symptomatology. Results The study included 46 patients, with 30 diagnosed with CVS and 16 with CHS. CVS patients were younger (median age 23 years) compared to CHS patients (median age 27 years; P = 0.043). CHS patients exhibited higher tobacco consumption (50.0% vs 26.7%; P = 0.019) and risky alcohol use (31.3% vs 0.0%; P = 0.003). Cannabis use was reported by 13.3% of CVS patients. The time to diagnosis was longer for CVS (35.4 ± 9.8 months) compared to CHS (26.5 ± 16.0 months; P = 0.016). No significant differences were found in the number of hospital admissions, as well as length of stay between patients with CVS and CHS. Conclusions This study presents the first detailed analysis of CVS and CHS in the Mexican population, revealing some demographic and clinical differences from global data. These findings highlight the importance of developing region-specific guidelines for diagnosing and managing these conditions, especially given Mexico’s changing cannabis policies. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2025;31:330-339)