GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Tied to Risks and Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2025 -- For people with diabetes, the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) is associated with a reduced risk for certain disorders and conditions, including neurocognitive and cardiometabolic disorders, and with an increased risk for others, including gastrointestinal and arthritic disorders, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in Nature Medicine.

Yan Xie, from the VA St. Louis Health Care System, and colleagues examined the effectiveness and risks for GLP-1 RAs. The authors used the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs databases to build a cohort of people with diabetes who initiated a GLP-1 RA and compared them to patients initiating sulfonylureas, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors, or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (215,970, 159,465, 117,989, and 258,614 individuals, respectively). They were also compared to a control group composed of equal proportions of individuals initiating sulfonylureas, DPP4 inhibitors, and SGLT2 inhibitors (536,068 people), as well as a control group that continued use of non-GLP-1 RA antihyperglycemics (usual care; 1,203,097 individuals). The associations of GLP-1 RA use with each comparator were examined for 175 health outcomes.

The researchers found that GLP-1 RA use compared with usual care was associated with a reduced risk for substance use and psychotic disorders, seizures, neurocognitive disorders (including Alzheimer disease and dementia), coagulation disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, infectious illnesses, and several respiratory conditions. Conversely, GLP-1 RA use was associated with an increased risk for gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, syncope, arthritic disorders, nephrolithiasis, interstitial nephritis, and drug-induced pancreatitis compared with usual care.

"Our discovery approach confirms previous studies and clinical trials and also uncovers previously unreported benefits and risks of GLP-1 RAs," the authors write. "The results may be useful for informing clinical care."

Two authors disclosed ties to Pfizer.

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 : 2025-01-22 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