Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 1: People with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 receptor agonists may have a lower risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) and suffering serious infections, according to two recent studies involving millions of patients.
An international study involving more than 7 million people found that patients with type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1 drugs had a lower risk of developing TB compared with those taking other commonly used diabetes medicines.
The study, published in Nature Communications, found that GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with a 51 per cent lower risk of TB compared with DPP-4 inhibitors. The risk was also lower when compared with sulfonylureas, metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors.
The researchers said the findings indicate that GLP-1 receptor agonists may offer benefits beyond their established effects on blood sugar and metabolic health.
A separate real-world study published in The BMJ examined more than 50,000 US adults with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It found that patients taking tirzepatide, sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound, had lower risks of several serious infection-related outcomes compared with those taking sitagliptin.
Tirzepatide use was associated with a 60 per cent lower risk of infection-related death and a 36 per cent lower risk of infection-related hospitalisation. The study also found lower risks of urinary tract infections and infections requiring medical care.
Researchers suggested that the reduction in serious bacterial infections could partly explain the lower risk of death observed among tirzepatide users.
People with diabetes are known to face a higher risk of active TB and poorer outcomes following infection. Researchers believe that obesity, chronic inflammation and impaired immune function may contribute to the increased infection risk.
Preclinical research has also suggested that GLP-1 receptor agonists could improve immune responses by supporting the function of neutrophils, which play an important role in fighting bacterial infections.
However, the researchers cautioned that both studies were observational and had limitations. The TB study lacked important clinical information about TB exposure and disease characteristics, while differences in TB prevalence between countries could have influenced the findings. The tirzepatide study also had a relatively short follow-up period.
GLP-1-based medicines such as tirzepatide and semaglutide are already widely used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, with additional approved uses emerging in areas including cardiovascular disease and certain kidney and metabolic conditions. The latest findings suggest that their potential effects on infection risk warrant further investigation.