2018 to 2022 Saw Increase in GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use in Adults Without Diabetes

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 10, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, April 10, 2025 -- Among U.S. adults without diabetes, the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) increased from 2018 to 2022, reaching annual prevalence of 0.4 percent in 2022, according to a study published online April 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Cade Shadbolt, from the University of Melbourne in Australia, and colleagues examined data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component from 2018 to 2022 to examine GLP-1 RA use and expenditure among U.S adults without diabetes.

The researchers found that the pooled annual prevalence of GLP-1 RA use was 0.1 percent in the unweighted sample of 89,854 U.S. adults without diabetes from 2018 to 2021. The annual prevalence increased to 0.4 percent by 2022, with an estimated 854,728 adults without diabetes using GLP-1 RAs. The annual expenditure on GLP-1 RAs increased from $1.6 billion between 2018 and 2021 to $5.8 billion in 2022 among adults without diabetes. The mean number of prescriptions per user was 4.1 from 2018 to 2022, with a mean expenditure of $1,540.00 and mean out-of-pocket costs of $34.68 per prescription.

"The number of U.S. adults without diabetes using GLP-1 RAs increased more than threefold between 2018 and 2022, leading to $5.8 billion in direct spending by 2022," the authors write. "Despite this, adoption remained limited, as only one in 250 U.S. adults without diabetes used a GLP-1 RA in 2022."

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-04-11 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords