Comparative outcomes for tirzepatide versus glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a national propensity matched study
- Design
- Retrospective cohort · 3042 participants · Hard outcome
- Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
- Population unclear[Auto] Population characteristics not extractable from abstract (mean age 54.6). 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 13, 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; quoted from abstract conclusions] Patients with IBD prescribed tirzepatide may have lower risk of IV steroid use compared to those taking GLP-1RAs. Prospective studies are warranted to validate these results and explore underlying mechanisms.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Tirzepatide
- Treatment duration
- 18 months
- Comparator
- GLP-1RAs
- Primary outcome
- Not extracted
- Effect
- Not extracted
- 95% confidence interval
- Not extracted
- Follow-up
- 18 years
- Adverse events
- Not extracted
- Limitations
- Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.
Who was studied
- Mean age
- 54.6
- Age min
- 18
- Sex distribution
- 71.3% female
- Sample size
- 3042
Study quality details
- Study design
- Retrospective cohort
- Sample size
- 3042
- Randomization
- no
- Blinding
- not stated
- Comparator
- not stated
- Follow up duration
- 18 years
- Outcome type
- hard
- Replication
- not assessed (auto)
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed (auto)
- Population applicability
- UNKNOWN
- Statistical precision
- CI reported: 95% confidence interval [CI], 0
- 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
[BACKGROUND/AIMS] Evidence suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may improve disease-specific outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonist, may offer additional benefits. We compared clinical and safety outcomes among patients with IBD treated with tirzepatide versus GLP-1RAs. [METHODS] Patients aged ≥ 18 years with IBD were identified within a retrospective multiinstitutional U.S. database who were prescribed tirzepatide or GLP-1RA between May 2022 and January 2025. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed for demographics, comorbidities, and IBD medications. Outcomes were assessed over 18 months and included intravenous (IV) steroid use, intestinal surgery, emergency department visits, hospitalization, and a composite of IV steroids and surgery. Adverse outcomes were assessed. [RESULTS] After matching, 3,042 patients (mean age, 54.6 years; 71.3% female) were analyzed in each cohort. Median follow-up was 540 days (interquartile range, 478-540 days) for tirzepatide versus 540 days (interquartile range, 540-540 days) for GLP-1RA. Patients taking tirzepatide had a significantly reduced risk of IV steroid use (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-0.94) and composite IBD outcomes (aHR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.73-0.97) with similar risk of hospitalization, emergency department visit and receipt of intestinal surgery. In patients with ulcerative colitis specifically, tirzepatide was similarly associated with a reduced risk of IV steroid use (aHR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.97). Adverse outcome risks were similar. [CONCLUSIONS] Patients with IBD prescribed tirzepatide may have lower risk of IV steroid use compared to those taking GLP-1RAs. Prospective studies are warranted to validate these results and explore underlying mechanisms.