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TRENDS IN GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONIST UTILIZATION AND BARIATRIC SURGERY RATES: A REAL-WORLD ANALYSIS FROM 2021-2024
Ahmed Telbany
*, Evelyn Inga, Pooja Viswanath, Abhishek Patel, Gulshan Parasher
Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
BackgroundThe emergence of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) has transformed the landscape of obesity management. However, their impact on bariatric surgery utilization remains poorly understood.
MethodsUsing the TriNetX database, we analyzed quarterly trends in GLP-1 RA prescriptions and bariatric surgery rates among patients with obesity from Q1 2021 through Q3 2024. We calculated the percentage of the obese population receiving each intervention and examined temporal trends. Patient demographics and comorbidities were analyzed for both treatment groups to characterize utilization patterns.
ResultsAmong patients with obesity, GLP-1 RA utilization increased significantly from 1.50% in Q1 2021 to 7.62% in Q3 2024, representing a five-fold increase. Conversely, bariatric surgery rates declined from 0.41% to 0.18% during the same period, a 56% decrease. GLP-1 RA recipients were generally older (62.3% aged >50 years) compared to bariatric surgery patients (34% aged >50 years) and had higher rates of comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes (63.1% vs 33%), cardiovascular disease (19.3% vs 8%), and hyperlipidemia (73.8% vs 51%) [Table 1]. The most pronounced changes occurred between 2022-2023, with GLP-1 RA prescriptions showing particular acceleration. By Q3 2024, GLP-1 RA utilization exceeded bariatric surgery rates by a factor of 42 (7.62% vs 0.18%). The total obese population remained relatively stable throughout the study period, ranging from approximately 700,000 to 850,000 patients [Figure 1].
ConclusionOur findings demonstrate a dramatic shift in obesity management practices, with substantial increases in GLP-1 RA utilization occurring simultaneously with declining bariatric surgery rates. This trend suggests a potential substitution effect, where pharmaceutical interventions may be replacing surgical approaches for obesity management. Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of this shift on patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.
Patient Characteristics
Quarterly Trends in Obesity Treatment, 2021-2024
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