Media release
From: Springer NatureInvestigating health benefits and risks associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists *PRESS BRIEFING*
The use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may be associated with a broad spectrum of health effects, including decreased risk for 42 health outcomes and increased risk of 19 health outcomes, according to an observational study published in Nature Medicine. The findings are based on analyses of data from 2.4 million participants.
GLP-1RAs have gained substantial popularity in the past several years due to their benefit as a weight-loss treatment. The wider effectiveness of GLP-1RAs is also being researched for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. However, given their commercial availability and widespread popularity, some cases of adverse events, such as suicidal ideation and gastrointestinal issues (including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), have also been reported. Despite this, the wider extent of the health benefits and risks of GLP-1RAs has yet to be explored.
Ziyad Al-Aly and colleagues analysed data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate the associations between GLP-1RA use and 175 health outcomes in 215,970 individuals with diabetes. This was compared to control participants, who used non-GLP-1RA anti-hyperglycemics, which are drugs that reduce blood sugar levels. They found that participants who used GLP-1RAs had a lower risk of coagulation and cardiometabolic disorders (such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, cardiac arrest, heart failure and myocardial infarction). The authors also suggest new potential beneficial effects beyond those currently recognised, including associations with a lower risk of substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, seizures, bacterial infections and pneumonia. Meanwhile, GLP-1RA use was also associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal conditions, such as nausea and vomiting, diverticulitis, gastritis and abdominal pain, as well as hypotension, syncope and arthritis.
Al-Aly and colleagues note that their findings are observational and do not demonstrate causality. They suggest that these findings help characterise the broad health effects of GLP-1RAs, but note that further research is needed to confirm their results in other cohorts and clinical trials. Likewise, they acknowledge that future studies should include more-diverse cohorts, as data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs are predominantly from older, white men.
Expert Reaction
These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.
Professor Gary Wittert is the Director Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing and a Professor of Medicine at University of Adelaide and South Australia Health Medical Research Institute
Dr Georgia Rigas is a Senior Bariatric Medical Practitioner and Obesity Doctor at St George Private Hospital, Kogarah Sydney Australia
Professor David Henry is an Honorary Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Science and Medicine at the Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare at Bond University, University of NSW and University of Melbourne
Professor Tony Blakely is an epidemiologist and public health medicine specialist from the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at The University of Melbourne