GLP-1RAs not associated with increased risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors

GLP-1RAs not associated with increased risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M24-0329      

URL goes live when the embargo lifts      

A target trial emulation study found no increased risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors associated with the use of GLP-1RAs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). This is important because GLP-1RAs are used to manage T2D and have been found to reduce appetite by altering reward effects in the brain, which helps to treat obesity, as well. However, there is some concern that this mechanism of action could increase suicidal thoughts and risk. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy studied U.S. national Medicare administrative data from January 2017 to December 2020 to investigate the association between GLP-1 RAs, compared with sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is), and risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors in older adults with T2D. The data comprised more than 21,000 adults aged 66 years and older who had T2D, no record of suicidal ideation at baseline, and who were initiating treatment with one of the three classes of medication. The researchers compared the occurrence of suicidal behaviors based on diagnostic codes on the Medicare claims files after being prescribed the medications to that of similar patients matched on clinical and demographic factors who were also started on the medications. The researchers did not find an increase in risk of suicidal behaviors associated with GLP1-RAs after a median of a little over a year and a half. Similarly, no clear increase in risk was observed in the matched pairs of patients on GLP1-RA versus SGLT2-Is.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Angela Collom at [email protected]. To speak with the corresponding author, Jingchuan Guo, MD, PhD, please email Matt Splett at [email protected].