A recent study has found that taking the GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) class of anti-obesity drugs is associated with lower rates of post-surgery complications in patients with diabetes. These medications, which help treat diabetes through weight loss, improved blood glucose levels, and increased insulin sensitivity, may also reduce the risk of hospital re-admission and certain surgical complications.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine analyzed hospital records of over 74,400 surgical procedures performed on nearly 22,000 patients with diabetes between February 2020 and July 2023. The results showed that patients taking GLP-1 RA drugs had a 12% lower risk of hospital re-admission within a month of surgery compared to those not taking these medications.
Additionally, the study found that patients on GLP-1 RA drugs had a 29% lower risk of wound re-opening within six months of surgery and a 56% lower risk of haematoma, a complication where blood collects in tissue due to injury at the surgery site.
What are GLP-1 RA agonists?
GLP-1 RA agonists ate a class of medications that mainly help manage blood sugar (glucose) levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.
According to senior author Dr Jason Spector, chief of the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, "These findings suggest that taking these drugs shouldn't worsen overall post-surgical complications, and may even reduce the likelihood of some of them."
The study's results imply that GLP-1 RA drugs may have a beneficial effect on post-surgical outcomes in patients with diabetes. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.
