Use of DPP4 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Intestinal Obstruction: Scandinavian Cohort Study

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Peter Ueda
  • Viktor Wintzell
  • Mads Melbye
  • Björn Eliasson
  • Jonas Söderling
  • Soffia Gudbjörnsdottir
  • Kristian Hveem
  • Christian Jonasson
  • Henrik Svanström
  • Hviid, Anders Peter
  • Björn Pasternak

Background & Aims: Concerns have been raised that the incretin-based diabetes drugs dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may increase the risk of intestinal obstruction. We aimed to assess the association between use of DPP4 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists and the risk of intestinal obstruction. Methods: Using data from nationwide registers in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, 2013–2021, we conducted 2 cohort studies, one for DPP4 inhibitors and one for GLP-1 receptor agonists, to investigate the risk of intestinal obstruction as compared with an active comparator drug class (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 [SGLT2] inhibitors). Results: Among 19,0321 new users of DPP4 inhibitors (median (interquartile range [IQR]) follow-up time, 1.3 [0.6–2.6] years) and 139,315 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors (median [IQR] follow-up time, 0.8 [0.4–1.7] years), 919 intestinal obstruction events occurred. Use of DPP4 inhibitors, as compared with SGLT2 inhibitors, was not associated with a statistically significant increase in risk of intestinal obstruction (adjusted incidence rate, 2.0 vs 1.8 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.96–1.34). Among 121,254 new users of GLP-1 receptor agonists (median [standard deviation] follow-up time, 0.9 [0.4–1.9] years) and 185,027 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors (median [IQR] follow-up time, 0.8 [0.4–1.8] years), 557 intestinal obstruction events occurred. Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was not associated with a statistically significant increase in risk of intestinal obstruction (adjusted incidence rate, 1.3 vs 1.6 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.69–1.01). Conclusions: In this analysis of nationwide data from 3 countries, previous safety signals indicating an increased risk of intestinal obstruction with use of DPP4 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists were not confirmed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
ISSN1542-3565
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding Supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council , Dr. Margaretha Nilsson’s Foundation for Medical Research, and Region Stockholm (ALF). Dr Ueda was supported by grants from the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation , Strategic Research Area Epidemiology programme at Karolinska Institutet, and a Faculty Funded Career Position at Karolinska Institutet . Dr Pasternak was supported by a consolidator investigator grant from Karolinska Institutet. Dr Hviid was supported by a Novo Nordisk Foundation investigator grant.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 AGA Institute

    Research areas

  • Adverse Events, Incretin-based Drugs, Type 2 Diabetes

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