AIM: To assess whether adults with diabetes on oral hypoglycaemic agents undergoing general endotracheal anaesthesia during nine common surgical procedures who are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) users, compared with non-users, are at increased risk of six peri- and post-procedure complications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort analysis of over 130 million deidentified US adults with diabetes (defined as being on oral hypoglycaemic agents) from a nationally representative electronic health dataset between 1 January 2015 and 1 April 2023 was analysed. Cohorts were matched by high-dimensionality propensity scoring. We compared the odds of six peri- and postoperative complications in GLP1-RA users and non-users. A sensitivity analysis compared these odds in GLP1-RA users to non-users with diabetes and obesity. We measured the odds of (a) a composite outcome of postoperative decelerated gastric emptying, including antiemetic use, ileus within 7 days post-procedure, gastroparesis diagnosis, gastric emptying study; (b) postoperative aspiration or pneumonitis; (c) severe respiratory failure; (d) postoperative hypoglycaemia; (e) inpatient mortality; and (f) 30-day mortality.
RESULTS: Among 13 361 adults with diabetes, 16.5% were treated with a GLP1-RA. In the high-dimensionality propensity score-matched cohort, GLP1-RA users had a lower risk of peri- and postoperative complications for decelerated gastric emptying and antiemetic use compared with non-users. The risk of ileus within 7 days, aspiration/pneumonitis, hypoglycaemia and 30-day mortality were not different. A sensitivity analysis showed similar findings in patients with diabetes and obesity.
CONCLUSION: No increased risk of peri- and postoperative complications in GLP1-RA users undergoing surgery with general endotracheal anaesthesia was identified.
