Researchers have found that patients using GLP-1-type weight-loss drugs may face a higher risk of serious complications during anesthesia, due to the effect of these drugs in slowing down gastric emptying.
A recent British study has revealed a strong link between the use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, such as Mongaro and Wigovy, and an increased risk of serious respiratory complications during surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia.
The results showed that patients taking these drugs were about 11 times more likely to develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or what is known as "aspiration pneumonia," compared to those who did not use them, due to the effect of the drugs in slowing down gastric emptying and retaining food contents, even with adherence to fasting periods before surgery.
The study, conducted by researchers from Guy's and St Thomas' and King's College London, analyzed data from 47,039 patients who underwent medical procedures in 119 UK hospitals, where complications were recorded in 1.4% of drug users compared to only 0.12% of non-users.
Despite the high relative risk, the researchers stressed that the overall probability remains low, emphasizing that obesity and diabetes are themselves independent risk factors, making it difficult to definitively isolate the drug's effect as the sole cause of complications.
Medical recommendations currently vary regarding the necessity of stopping the medication before surgery; while a third of participants are advised to stop for two weeks, official guidelines in the United Kingdom still call for continuing treatment due to insufficient evidence of the benefit of temporary discontinuation, especially for diabetic patients.
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