Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Associated Gastrointestinal Adverse Events: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Institutes of Health All of Us Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are commonly used diabetes and obesity medications but have been associated with gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events. However, real-world evidence on comparative GI adverse reaction profiles is limited.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate GI adverse events among GLP-1 RA users and compare semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and exenatide safety regarding the GI adverse reaction profile.

METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional analysis utilized real-world data on 10,328 adults with diabetes/obesity in the National Institutes of Health All of Us cohort. New GLP-1 RA users were identified, and GI adverse events were examined. Logistic regression determined factors associated with GI adverse events.

RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 61.4 ± 12.6 years, 65.7% were female, 51.3% were White, and they had a high comorbidity burden. Abdominal pain (57.6%) was the most common GI adverse event, followed by constipation (30.4%), diarrhea (32.7%), nausea and vomiting (23.4%), GI bleeding (15.9%), gastroparesis (5.1%), and pancreatitis (3.4%). Dulaglutide and liraglutide had higher rates of abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting than semaglutide and exenatide. Liraglutide and exenatide had the highest pancreatitis (4.0% and 3.8%, respectively). Compared to semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide had higher odds of abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting. They also had higher odds of gastroparesis than semaglutide. No significant differences existed in GI bleeding or pancreatitis risks between the GLP-1 RAs.

CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world cohort, GI adverse events were common with GLP-1 RAs. Differences in GI safety profiles existed between agents, with exenatide appearing safer than other GLP-1 RAs, except for gastroparesis. These findings can inform GLP-1 RA selection considering GI risk factors. Further studies are needed to evaluate the causal relationship and GLP-1 RA safety with concomitant medication use.