Weight loss drugs could at least double the risk of diabetic patients developing age-related macular degeneration, a large-scale study has found.
The researchers then compared how many patients developed neovascular age-related macular degeneration over three years.
Patients who had been taking GLP-1 RAs for more than 30 months had more than three times the risk.
Diabetic patients who were older and/or had had a stroke had an even higher risk of developing macular degeneration if they were on these drugs, the authors found.
“These medicines have been extensively examined in Novo Nordisk’s robust clinical development programs, including randomised controlled trials, which to date have not shown any observable treatment difference compared to placebo for macular degeneration or age-related macular degeneration.
A comprehensive study has discovered that weight loss medications may at least double the risk of age-related macular degeneration in diabetic patients.
GLP-1 RA medications, which were initially created for diabetic patients, have revolutionized the treatment of obesity and there is mounting evidence of additional health advantages. They aid in lowering blood sugar, delaying digestion, and curbing hunger.
However, compared to similar patients who do not take the medications, using GLP-1 RAs for six months is linked to a twofold increased risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in older adults with diabetes, according to a study by Canadian researchers published in Jama Ophthalmology.
Researchers at the University of Toronto looked at medical records for over a million people in Ontario who had been diagnosed with diabetes. They found 46,334 patients, whose average age was 66, who were prescribed GLP-1 RAs. The majority (97–5%) were taking semaglutide, whereas lixisenatide was being taken by 2–5%.
While no particular brand of medication was excluded from the study, it is likely that the majority of semaglutide users were taking Ozempic, a medication prescribed for diabetes, as Wegovy was only approved in Canada in November 2021, primarily for weight loss.
Patients on semaglutide or lixisenatide were paired with two individuals who had diabetes but were not on the medications. These patients were matched based on similar attributes, including age, gender, and medical conditions. Following that, the researchers compared the number of patients who experienced neovascular age-related macular degeneration over a three-year period.
Those who had been taking lixisenatide or semaglutide for at least six months were twice as likely to develop macular degeneration as those who were not taking the medications, according to the study. More than three times as many patients were at risk if they had been taking GLP-1 RAs for longer than 30 months.
The authors discovered that older diabetic patients who had experienced a stroke or were taking these medications were even more at risk of developing macular degeneration.
The study’s co-author, Marko Popovic, a doctor in the University of Toronto’s department of ophthalmology and vision sciences, stated: “GLP-1 receptor agonists seem to have a variety of effects on the eye, and in the case of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, the overall impact may be harmful.”.
We found that older [diabetic] patients and those with a history of stroke had an even higher risk of developing [the condition], so based on our data, I would recommend using extra caution when prescribing GLP-1 RAs to these patients. “”.
The results indicated that a significant number of patients might be impacted, according to an accompanying editorial written by Brian VanderBeek, an associate professor of ophthalmology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
With millions of users at risk, “this suggests that up to one in 1,000 GLP-1 RA users could progress to new age-related macular degenaration over unexposed patients: those affected could end up being a sizable group of patients,” he said.
According to VanderBeek, more research is required to ascertain whether this is more common among diabetic patients or if people using these medications for other purposes, such as weight control, are also at risk. Prescription doctors should be aware of the actual and severe ocular adverse events that can happen, even though they are not greater than the benefits these drugs provide. “”.
A representative for Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Wegovy and Ozempic, stated: “We take seriously any report of an adverse event associated with the use of our medications, as patient safety is our first priority. To continuously check the safety profile of our products, we collaborate closely with international authorities and regulatory agencies.
These medications have been thoroughly studied in Novo Nordisk’s strong clinical development programs, including randomized controlled trials, which have not yet revealed any discernible treatment difference for age-related macular degeneration or macular degeneration when compared to a placebo. The use of GLP-1 RA, semaglutide, and age-related macular degeneration are not, therefore, causally related, according to Novo Nordisk. “”.
These medications do not currently list macular degeneration as a possible side effect, according to Dr. Alison Cave, chief safety officer of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, a UK watchdog. Nonetheless, we continue to closely monitor the safety of these medications, taking into account new information from research publications, and we will act appropriately when called upon. According to available data, when GLP-1 RAs are used for the approved indications, the advantages exceed the possible risks. “”.
