GLP-1 receptor agonists may lower the risk for acute pancreatitis recurrence in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to research presented at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass.
The study aimed to determine if GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and DPP4 inhibitors, affected the risk. The results showed the GLP-1 group had a lower risk for pancreatitis recurrence compared to patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors (15.2% vs. 24%), DPP4i drugs (14.4% vs. 23.3%), and those not taking any of these medications (14.5% vs. 51.6%).
"Our research highlights the safety and the potential for GLP-1 receptor agonists to reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis recurrence in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes, challenging previous concerns and offering new hope for effective disease management,” lead researcher Mahmoud Nassar, M.D., said.
The researchers analyzed data from a large database, TriNetX, which contains data on approximately 127 million patients across 15 countries, most from the United States. They identified 638,501 patients with a history of acute pancreatitis in patients with diabetes and obesity.The analysis covered a wide range of medications within each category and considered various patient characteristics, such as age, gender, BMI, and blood test results. The researchers tracked the number of patients who developed pancreatitis recurrence within 5 years of starting a medication. They then compared groups of patients, matching them by patient characteristics.
"This study provides critical insights that could change the treatment landscape for patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, particularly those with a history of acute pancreatitis," Dr. Nassar said. "The possibility of using GLP-1 receptor agonists more broadly offers hope for better managing these conditions, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing quality of life."
No conflicts of interest were disclosed.
