Use of GLP1RAs and occurrence of respiratory disorders: A meta-analysis of large randomized trials of GLP1RAs

No large sample studies have been designed to evaluate the efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) in the primary and secondary prevention of respiratory disorders. We aimed at evaluating the relationship between use of GLP1RAs and occurrence of 12 kinds of respiratory disorders.

Large randomized placebo-controlled trials of GLP1RAs were included. We conducted meta-analysis using random effects model and measured heterogeneity using I² . Treatment effect was presented as risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Seven trials including 55 922 participants were included in meta-analysis. The occurrence rates of various respiratory disorders were low, with the minimum of 0.02% (pulmonary fibrosis) and the maximum of 2.31% (pneumonia). Although not reaching statistical significance, GLP1RAs versus placebo showed the reduced trends in the risks of nine kinds of respiratory disorders including pneumonia (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.78-1.01), squamous cell carcinoma of lung (SCCL; RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.25-1.21), asthma (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.51-1.32), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.73-1.10), but the increased trend in interstitial lung disease (ILD; RR 1.89, 95% CI 0.87-4.08). GLP1RAs had neutral effects on two other respiratory disorders. Heterogeneity in any meta-analysis was absent or low.

GLP1RAs show the reduced trends in the risks of nine kinds of respiratory disorders (eg, pneumonia, SCCL, asthma, and COPD), but the increased trend in the risk of ILD. However, these findings need to be validated by further studies due to the low incidence rates of all the respiratory disorders.