Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-10-2025
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prior studies showed worse outcomes in obese inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, especially those related to hospitalizations, surgery, and steroid-free remission. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) have demonstrated significant metabolic benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Hence, GLP1-RAs may improve clinical outcomes in patients with IBD, especially those with obesity. The objective was to systematically evaluate the impact of GLP1-RAs on clinical outcomes in patients with IBD.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to March 15, 2025. Studies reporting outcomes related to GLP1-RAs in patients with IBD were included. Primary outcomes included weight loss and various IBD-related co-endpoints such as hospitalizations, surgery, corticosteroid use, and advanced therapy initiation.
FINDINGS: In total, 11 studies with 16 242 patients with IBD treated with GLP1-RAs were included. Weight loss was achieved using semaglutide (-9.6 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -12.0; -7.2), liraglutide (-9.4 kg, 95% CI: -13.0; -5.8), and tirzepatide (-11.8 kg, 95% CI: -18.3; -5.4) after 3 months of follow-up. In meta-analyses, GLP1-RAs were associated with lower risk of surgery for effect sizes (logHR: 0.61 [95% CI: 0.44-0.84], I 2 = 0%) and event frequencies (odds ratio [OR]: 0.46 [95% CI: 0.32-0.67], I 2 = 42%). Sensitivity analysis for body mass index (BMI) showed a lower risk of hospitalizations and surgery in patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
INTERPRETATION: Patients with IBD and obesity using GLP1-RAs were able to achieve significant weight loss and had lower risks of surgery and hospitalizations. Our findings require confirmation in prospective trials of GLP1-RAs in IBD.
Recommended Citation
Bayoumy, Ahmed B.; Clarke, Lindsay M.; Deepak, Parakkal; Desai, Aakash; Sehgal, Priya; Gorelik, Uri; Bar-Yoseph, Haggai; Villumsen, Marie; Mulder, Chris J. J.; Stenvers, Dirk J.; Tushuizen, Maarten E.; and de Boer, Nanne K. H., "Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and the Clinical Outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" (2025). Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers. Paper 122.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/gastro_hepfp/122
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
PubMed ID
41071055
Language
English
Included in
Chemical Actions and Uses Commons, Digestive System Diseases Commons, Gastroenterology Commons
Comments
This article is the author’s final published version in Journal of Crohn's & Colitis, Volume 19, Issue 10, 2025.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaf181. Copyright © The Author(s) 2025.