INTRODUCTION: There are limited data on the impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) on the risk of recurrent pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC).
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the TriNetX Research Network in adult patients with obesity and IPAA for UC with a history of pouchitis in whom a GLP-1RA was initiated compared to those patients in whom a GLP-1RA was not initiated. The primary outcome was the risk of recurrent pouchitis within 12 months. The secondary outcomes were mean number of antibiotic prescriptions, anti-diarrheal medication use, Crohns-like disease of pouch (CLDP), and pouch excision. One-to-one propensity score matching was performed.
RESULTS: We identified 43 UC-IPAA patients with obesity and history of pouchitis (mean age 51.7 ± 14.7 years, mean body mass index [BMI] 34.4 ± 6 kg/m2, 60.4% female). After propensity score matching, the GLP-1RA cohort had a significantly decreased risk of recurrent pouchitis (26.3% vs 52.6%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.32; 95% CI, 0.12-0.84) compared to the control cohort. Mean antibiotic prescriptions were numerically lower in the GLP-1RA cohort (2 vs 4.4, P = .16). Anti-diarrheal medication use was lower in the GLP-1RA cohort (18.4% vs 47.3%; aOR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.07-0.67). There was no difference in the risk of CLDP. Zero patients required pouch excision in both cohorts.
CONCLUSION: Our study in a small cohort of patients with UC-IPAA and obesity with a history of pouchitis showed that GLP-1RA use was associated with decreased risk of recurrent pouchitis and anti-diarrheal medication use.
