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In Brief | Lifestyle Diseases | Pyschiatry
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Suicide Death
Time to read: 02:01Time to listen: 04:43
Originally Published: 3 September 2024
Sourced: JAMA Internal Medicine
Type of article: In Brief
MedED Catalogue Reference: MGIB008
Category: Gerontology & Healthy Ageing
Cross Reference: Non-communicable diseases, Mental Health
Keywords: diabetes, GLP-1 antagonists, suicide risk, weight loss, diabetes
GLP-1 receptor agonists were not associated with increased risks of self-harm, suicide, or psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Originally published in JAMA Internal Medicine, 3 September 2023 This summary does not represent the original research, nor is it intended to replace the original research. Access the full Disclaimer Information
Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) receptor agonists are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, but concerns have arisen regarding potential links to suicidality and self-harm.
- 124,517 adults initiated GLP-1 receptor agonists, while 174,036 initiated SGLT2 inhibitors
- The mean age was 60 years, and 45% were female
- During an average follow-up of 2.5 years, there were 77 suicide deaths among GLP-1 receptor agonist users and 71 among SGLT2 inhibitor users
- The weighted incidence of suicide deaths was slightly higher for GLP-1 receptor agonists (0.23 vs 0.18 per 1000 person-years), but the hazard ratio (HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.83-1.88) was not statistically significant
The researchers broadly concluded that no association was found between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and nonfatal self-harm or new cases of depression and anxiety-related disorders. The study concluded that GLP-1 receptor agonists do not significantly increase the risk of suicide, self-harm, or psychiatric disorders.
It is important to note the following study limitations: while adjustments were made for confounders, such as psychiatric disorders and socioeconomic status, unmeasured factors could have influenced the results. The study predominantly involved GLP-1 receptor agonist users with type 2 diabetes, limiting generalizability to non-diabetic patients using the drugs for obesity.
The small number of suicide events in subgroup analyses, varying drug usage patterns, and a relatively short follow-up period (mean 2.7 years) may have limited the study's ability to detect long-term risks. Misclassification of suicide deaths and underreporting of nonfatal self-harm also contribute to potential bias in the findings.
Access the original research article
Ueda, P., Söderling, J., Wintzell, V., Svanström, H., Pazzagli, L., Eliasson, B., Melbye, M., Hviid, A., & Pasternak, B. (2024). GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Suicide Death. JAMA internal medicine, e244369. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.4369
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