Millions of Surgery Records Raise New Questions About GLP-1 Drugs
The study's lead author told Newsweek researchers found an unexpected benefit that went beyond GLP-1 drugs' usual effects.
GLP-1 drugs, primarily used for managing diabetes and aiding weight loss, may offer additional benefits before surgery, according to a recent study. Researchers from McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston discovered that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists before elective surgery had a lower risk of serious cardiovascular complications and postoperative infections.
Josephine Tolan, MD, the study's lead author, highlighted an 11% reduction in major cardiovascular events and an 8% reduction in postoperative infections among GLP-1 users. These findings are particularly intriguing because GLP-1 medications are known for their metabolic benefits, but this study suggests they may also influence inflammatory pathways.
The research, conducted using data from the EPIC COSMOS database, included 2.028.601 adults who underwent surgeries lasting more than an hour and required at least 24 hours of hospitalization between 2016 and 2024. Out of these patients, 145,610 were receiving GLP-1 therapy. After statistical analysis, the study found that major cardiovascular events occurred in 1% of GLP-1 users compared to 1.1% of non-users, while postoperative infections affected 4.9% of GLP-1 users versus 5.3% of non-users.
Despite these potential benefits, GLP-1 use may delay gastric emptying, increasing the risk of aspiration during anesthesia. However, the study does not eliminate this concern but raises the possibility that continuing GLP-1 medications could improve postoperative outcomes. Experts suggest that the study's findings are biologically plausible, as GLP-1 medications have anti-inflammatory effects and demonstrated cardiovascular benefits in randomized controlled trials.
However, the observational design of the study cannot prove that the drugs directly caused the reductions in risk. Patients should inform their surgical and anesthesia teams about their GLP-1 medication, dosage, and the last time they took it, following their clinicians' instructions. Further research is needed to establish the causal relationship and optimize the balance between benefits and aspiration risks.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
