Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and the clinical outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

🥉 Top 5% JournalOct 10, 2025Journal of Crohn's & colitis

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and health outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease

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Abstract

Weight loss of -9.6 kg was achieved in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using GLP1 receptor agonists.

GLP1 receptor agonists led to significant weight loss in patients with IBD: semaglutide (-9.6 kg), liraglutide (-9.4 kg), and tirzepatide (-11.8 kg) after 3 months.
Meta-analyses indicated a lower risk of surgery associated with GLP1 receptor agonists, with a hazard ratio of 0.61 and an odds ratio of 0.46.
Patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) showed a reduced risk of hospitalizations and surgeries when treated with GLP1 receptor agonists.
The findings suggest potential benefits of GLP1 receptor agonists for improving clinical outcomes in obese patients with IBD.

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BACKGROUND: Prior studies showed worse outcomes in obese inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, especially those related to hospitalizations, surgery, and steroid-free remission. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) have demonstrated significant metabolic benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Hence, GLP1-RAs may improve clinical outcomes in patients with IBD, especially those with obesity. The objective was to systematically evaluate the impact of GLP1-RAs on clinical outcomes in patients with IBD.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to March 15, 2025. Studies reporting outcomes related to GLP1-RAs in patients with IBD were included. Primary outcomes included weight loss and various IBD-related co-endpoints such as hospitalizations, surgery, corticosteroid use, and advanced therapy initiation.

FINDINGS: In total, 11 studies with 16 242 patients with IBD treated with GLP1-RAs were included. Weight loss was achieved using semaglutide (-9.6 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -12.0; -7.2), liraglutide (-9.4 kg, 95% CI: -13.0; -5.8), and tirzepatide (-11.8 kg, 95% CI: -18.3; -5.4) after 3 months of follow-up. In meta-analyses, GLP1-RAs were associated with lower risk of surgery for effect sizes (logHR: 0.61 [95% CI: 0.44-0.84], I 2 = 0%) and event frequencies (odds ratio [OR]: 0.46 [95% CI: 0.32-0.67], I 2 = 42%). Sensitivity analysis for body mass index (BMI) showed a lower risk of hospitalizations and surgery in patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

INTERPRETATION: Patients with IBD and obesity using GLP1-RAs were able to achieve significant weight loss and had lower risks of surgery and hospitalizations. Our findings require confirmation in prospective trials of GLP1-RAs in IBD.

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