New Canadian research has provided further evidence linking the use of GLP-1 agonists (such as weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy) with an increased risk for serious gastrointestinal issues – including stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and bowel obstruction.
The study into the effect of GLP-1 agonists on the gastrointestinal system, published in JAMA, followed researchers from the University of British Columbia noticing a person in the emergency room ‘who had significant unexplained nausea and vomiting’.
First author Mohit Sodhi told medicalnewstoday.com: ‘He recently started Ozempic for weight loss. I had seen a number of anecdotal reports, case reports and literature describing similar symptoms as this particular patient.’
A 2022 Chinese study published in Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity linked several gastrointestinal problems (including abdominal pain, indigestion, abdominal distension and gastroesophageal reflux disease) to the use of GLP-1 agonists.
Another 2022 Chinese study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology also reported the use of GLP-1 receptors was significantly associated with gastrointestinal adverse effects.
For this Canadian study, the team examined health insurance claim records for about 16 million people in the USA to look for prescriptions of either semaglutide or liraglutide between 2006-2020.
The study included data from people with a recent history of obesity, but excluded those with diabetes or who had been prescribed another anti-diabetic medication.
The team analysed the data to see how many people developed one of four gastrointestinal conditions: pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, gastroparesis and biliary disease – and compared the findings to people who took a combination of bupropion and naltrexone for weight loss.
Participants who took GLP-1 agonists had over 9 times higher risk of developing pancreatitis, 4.22 times higher risk of having a bowel obstruction and 3.67 times increased risk for gastroparesis.
Sodhi commented: ‘We are strong proponents for informed patient consent. We believe it is crucial for patients to have a full understanding of the potential adverse events associated with any medical therapy they choose to pursue.
‘We also hope our study can help inform healthcare providers and make them aware of these risks.’
After reviewing this study, California obesity specialist Dr Rami Bailony (not involved in the research)  emphasised: ‘While ‘relative risk’ percentages might sound alarming, the ‘absolute risk’ – or the actual number of people affected – can be quite small.
‘It’s essential to differentiate between the two to give patients a clear understanding of the real-world implications. While statements like ‘a nine times increased risk’ can sound alarming at first glance, it’s crucial to understand what that actually means in real-world terms.
‘If we delve into the ‘absolute risk’, the actual numbers paint a different picture. For instance, if we look at pancreatitis and its reported incidence rate, it means for every 1,000 people taking the medication for a year, roughly 8 might experience the condition.
‘So while the ‘relative risk’ seems high, the absolute number of people affected is relatively small.
‘This distinction between ‘relative’ and ‘absolute’ risk is vital for patients to understand – so they can make informed decisions based on real- world implications of the data, rather than just the headline numbers.’
