Larger studies needed
The study is “promising,” said session comoderator Baharak Moshiree, MD, a gastroenterologist at Atrium Health, Charlotte, N.C., who was not affiliated with the research.
However, because the study was retrospective and relatively small, it needs to be validated in larger, prospective studies, she added.
“With obesity being such a global issue, there are many patients on these GLP-1 agonists,” Dr. Moshiree said.
Generally, these medications are prescribed by endocrinologists, not gastroenterologists, she noted, and she said that gastroenterologists should be aware of the risks associated with them, including minor gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea and vomiting, that can occur because of delayed gastric emptying.
Dr. Postlethwaite noted that being unable to assess how much alcohol or tobacco individuals used was a limitation. The relatively low proportion of people who developed acute pancreatitis in the study also means larger studies are warranted, he added.
Going forward, Dr. Postlethwaite and colleagues want to study the risks for each individual GLP-1 and other therapies used to control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, such as DPP4 (dipeptidyl-peptidase 4) inhibitors.
The study was independently supported. Dr. Postlethwaite and Dr. Moshiree report no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.