GLP-1 Evidence

Not medical advice. A record of published research and our assessments of it. The limits

Peri-operative glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use and outcomes: a national prospective multicentre cohort study

Design
Retrospective cohort · 47039 participants · Unknown outcome
Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
Population unclear[Auto] Population characteristics not extractable from abstract (age/BMI not reported in abstract). Needs manual review.
Could weight loss explain it?
Unknown[Auto] Not addressed in abstract.
Study tier
Study tier 3[Auto] Observational design; confounding by indication and healthy-user effects cannot be excluded (auto-provisional).
Assessment
Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 20, 2026

Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.

[Auto, unreviewed; last sentences of abstract] [DISCUSSION] In this national study, 1 in 36 patients undergoing anaesthesia care received GLP-1 RAs, and their peri-operative management was variable. A range of airway management techniques aiming to reduce pulmonary aspiration risk were observed but, despite this, the incidence of pulmonary aspiration and/or regurgitation was 1 in 71 in people receiving GLP-1 RAs.

01Findings

What the study reported

Drugs
Class unspecified
Primary outcome
Not extracted
Effect
Not extracted
95% confidence interval
Not extracted
Follow-up
3 months
Adverse events
Not extracted
Limitations
Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.

Who was studied

Sample size
47039

Study quality details

Study design
Retrospective cohort
Sample size
47039
Randomization
no
Blinding
not stated
Comparator
not stated
Follow up duration
3 months
Outcome type
unknown
Replication
not assessed (auto)
Consistency with other evidence
not assessed (auto)
Population applicability
UNKNOWN
Statistical precision
not extracted
Risk of bias
not assessed (auto)
Funding conflicts
unclear
Peer review status
yes
02Funding

Funding and conflicts

Funding
not reported in abstract
Industry funded
Unclear
Manufacturer
None identified
Sponsor role
not reported in abstract
Author conflicts
not available in metadata
Independent replication
unknown

Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.

04Source

The source, as retrieved

Abstract

[INTRODUCTION] Peri-operative glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use is associated with delayed gastric emptying. It is unclear what proportion of patients having anaesthetic care are receiving GLP-1 RAs; what strategies are used in their peri-operative management; and whether the incidence of pulmonary aspiration and/or regurgitation is greater in this population. [METHODS] We performed a national prospective multicentre cohort study of adults undergoing elective or emergency procedures under the care of an anaesthetist. Patients were screened for GLP-1 RA use in the 3 months before the index procedure. Data were collected on patient, procedure, anaesthesia and outcomes, including pulmonary aspiration and regurgitation. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients receiving GLP-1 RAs. Secondary outcomes described the pre-operative management of GLP-1 RAs; anaesthesia and airway management in patients receiving GLP-1 RAs; and the incidence of pulmonary aspiration and/or regurgitation. [RESULTS] Of 47,039 patients from 119 sites across the UK, 1348 (2.9%) reported receiving GLP-1 RAs. Peri-operative management was variable regarding drug cessation, anaesthesia and airway management. The incidence (95%CI) of pulmonary aspiration and/or regurgitation in the non-GLP-1 RA cohort was 57/45,691 (0.12% (0.09-0.16%)) and in the GLP-1 RA cohort was 19/1348 (1.41% (0.85-2.19%)); odds ratio (95%CI) 11.39 (6.47-20.05), p < 0.001. In patients receiving GLP-1 RAs, pulmonary aspiration and/or regurgitation occurred most frequently during emergence from anaesthesia. [DISCUSSION] In this national study, 1 in 36 patients undergoing anaesthesia care received GLP-1 RAs, and their peri-operative management was variable. A range of airway management techniques aiming to reduce pulmonary aspiration risk were observed but, despite this, the incidence of pulmonary aspiration and/or regurgitation was 1 in 71 in people receiving GLP-1 RAs.

Where this record came from

SourceRetrievedIdentifier
pubmedSep 20, 202642748560
first ingestion