A nationwide study by Cedars-Sinai and other institutions aimed to identify trends in the use of GLP-1RAs, prescription medications under popular names Ozempic and Wegovy, in the United States.
This study was recently published in Annals of Internal Medicine. It can help researchers understand how GLP-1RAs are prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
GLP-1RA medications were initially developed for type 2 diabetes treatment. Then the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved them for weight management in adults with obesity or some conditions that are related to weight such as high blood pressure, prediabetes, or blood vessel disease.
Then demand for GLP-1RA drugs has significantly increased. It leads to a surge in weight loss prescriptions. But this has also resulted in a nationwide drug shortage and accessibility issues. Despite their benefits, GLP1-RAs are associated with various side effects. Hence it requires careful monitoring of prescription patterns.
In this study, researchers used a nationwide database that contained medical records of over 45 million people. Researchers wanted to understand more about the prescription and consumption of GLP-1Ras. Researchers found around 1 million new users of GLP-1RA. They divided them into groups based on whether they had diabetes, obesity, or other related conditions when they were prescribed the medication.
When researchers observed the collected data, they found that the majority of the new GLP-1RA users were primarily female and non-Hispanic white. These people were with a 30 or higher body mass index. Researchers also observed that the proportion of new users with type 2 diabetes decreased. It indicates a shift in the distribution of GLP-1RA users. On the other hand, new GLP-1RA prescriptions for those with obesity or comorbid conditions without type 2 diabetes have doubled, with a notable increase in medication use, especially since 2020.
This study shows that more healthcare professionals are recognizing the benefits of certain medications for treating obesity and that is a significant public health shift. But it also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure patients with diabetes have access to these treatments.
Researchers now want to use this study to make some new strategies that can address the increasing demand for GLP-1RAs.
