GLP-1 medicines, such as Ozempic, might potentially double the risk of vision loss-related eye diseases.

Down to the Bone: A Closer Look at the Risks of GLP-1 Agonists

In the realm of healthcare, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have gained significant attention due to their widespread use for treating type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss. These days, medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are common names in medical circles. But, with every medication comes potential risks, and GLP-1 RAs are no exception.

Previous studies have sketched out a connection between GLP-1 medications and the development of potentially blinding eye diseases. More recently, a study published in the esteemed medical journal JAMA Ophthalmology has shed light on an alarming issue. The study suggests that older adults with diabetes taking any sort of GLP-1 medication might be at a heightened risk for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a condition that could potentially lead to blindness.

Researchers sifted through health records from over 139,000 Ontario residents, aged 66 on average and diagnosed with diabetes, who had been using GLP-1 medications for at least six months. Interestingly, semaglutide accounted for a whopping 97.5% of all prescriptions, resting on the shoulders of this agonist. While other medications like tirzepatide, lixisenatide, and semaglutide combinations were the remaining 2.5%, it's worth noting that tirzepatide was not included in the study because it had not been approved in Canada during the study period.

The investigation revealed that participants with diabetes taking a GLP-1 medication had a doubled risk of developing nAMD, also known as "wet" AMD, a macular degeneration characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels. It's essential to emphasize that the absolute risk remains low, yet the relative risk escalation is crucial.

Delving into the nitty-gritty, the study found that the highest risk was connected to individuals using GLP-1 medications for extended periods. As the duration of exposure increased, so did the risk of nAMD. This discovery is particularly relevant since many people use these medications for the long haul, regardless of whether it's for blood sugar control or weight loss.

Rajeev H. Muni, MD MSc FRCSC, associate professor and vice chair of Clinical Research in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto, served as the principal investigator of this study. Addressing Medical News Today, he was quick to affirm that the results should not prompt hysteria, yet they warrant increased vigilance. He went on to explain that, though GLP-1 medications boast well-established benefits for cardiovascular health, blood sugar control, and weight management, patients who might be at higher risk for nAMD, such as the elderly, should be conscious of new visual symptoms. If any changes in vision manifest while using these medications, patients should promptly inform their doctor and be referred to an ophthalmologist for further assessment.

While this study presents a compelling case, it's imperative to note that it demonstrates an association, not causation. Critical risk factors like smoking, obesity (BMI), and sun exposure were not accounted for in the data, making it difficult to ascertain whether these factors could be the real drivers of the observed risk. Furthermore, results may be influenced by surveillance bias, as patients undergoing powerful new medications are typically monitored more closely, potentially leading to a heightened likelihood of eye problems being detected. Lastly, since most GLP-1 RAs in this study were semaglutide, the results may not apply to all GLP-1 RAs, and research in other countries is required to fully understand the global implications of this association.

In the realm of healthcare, medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), are commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and aid weight loss, but they might carry potential risks, such as an increase in chronic diseases like neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
The study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that older adults with diabetes using GLP-1 medications might have a doubled risk of developing nAMD compared to those not taking these medications.
The risk of nAMD was found to be particularly high in individuals who used GLP-1 medications for extended periods, emphasizing the importance of timely healthcare management and monitoring for eye-health.
As part of a healthy lifestyle maintaining overall health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and proper nutrition, patients using these medications, especially those at higher risk for nAMD, such as the elderly, should be aware of new visual symptoms and inform their doctors promptly if any changes in vision occur.
The researchers pointed out that the study did not account for critical risk factors like smoking, obesity, and sun exposure, making it difficult to determine the true drivers of the observed risk.
Since most GLP-1 RAs in the study were semaglutide, it's crucial to conduct further research in other countries to understand the global implications of this association and ensure accurate application of the findings to all GLP-1 RAs.