GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, potentially double the risk of experiencing retinal inflammation or vision loss.
In the realm of popular treatments, GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide and lesser-known alternatives, reign supreme for managing type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss. However, these medications come with a potential price, as research has hinted at a risk of vision-threatening eye diseases.
A recent study, published in a reputable journal, highlights the concern that older adults with diabetes taking any type of GLP-1 medication may face a heightened risk for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
Studies reveal that approximately one in eight people have taken a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, or GLP-1 medication, with its popularity booming in recent years for weight loss purposes. Currently, semaglutide, sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound, lead the pack for GLP-1 drugs.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto, Canada, analyzed health records of over 139,000 Ontario residents with an average age of 66 and a diabetes diagnosis. The participants used GLP-1 medications for more than six months, with semaglutide accounting for 97.5% of all prescriptions.
Researchers found that those with diabetes taking a GLP-1 medication had a two-fold higher risk of developing nAMD, a form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) where abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluids into the macula of the eye. There is currently no cure for nAMD, and it can potentially lead to blindness.
However, patients should not view this as an alarm, as the absolute risk remains low. The study's investigator, Rajeev H. Muni, explained that this risk doubling should result in increased clinical awareness, and that awareness is key for early detection and treatment.
It was also observed that the highest risk of nAMD was associated with participants who had used GLP-1 medications for the longest period. This suggests that the risk may accumulate over time, necessitating further investigation into the long-term ocular safety of these medications.
Strengths of the study include its massive scale of real-world data, the robust statistical technique used, and the evidence it found of a "dose-response" relationship. However, it has limitations, such as its inability to prove causation, and the possibility that the observed risk might be driven by other factors like smoking, obesity, and sun exposure.
Despite these limitations, continued monitoring of eye health in patients using GLP-1 medications is crucial, given their increasing prescription rates and the potential long-term side effects that warrant further study.
- This study published in a reputable journal warns of a potential risk for older adults with diabetes who take GLP-1 medications, as they may face a heightened risk for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
- Researchers found that individuals with diabetes taking GLP-1 medications had a two-fold higher risk of developing nAMD, which can potentially lead to blindness, highlighting the need for increased clinical awareness and early detection.
- The risk of nAMD was found to be higher in patients who had been using GLP-1 medications for the longest period, suggesting that the risk may accumulate over time, warranting further investigation into the long-term ocular safety of these medications.
- In light of the increasing prescription rates of GLP-1 medications and their potential long-term side effects, continued monitoring of eye health in patients using these drugs becomes essential as part of comprehensive health-and-wellness management, including fitness, weightloss, diabetes management, and management of other medical-conditions.
