GLP-1 Drug Use Before Knee Replacement Shows No Increased Complications, Shorter Stays | Research

The takeaway

GLP-1 agonist use before unicompartmental knee arthroplasty was not associated with increased infections or complications, with significantly shorter hospital stays (OR 0.6 for ≥3 days, p<0.001).

40% shorter stays
GLP-1 drug users had 40% lower odds of extended hospital stays after knee replacement with no increased infection or complication rates

What the researchers found

GLP-1 users: no increased SSI (OR 0.9, p=0.79), PJI (OR 0.7, p=0.40), or 1-year complications. Shorter LOS ≥3 days (OR 0.6, p<0.001). 1,018 GLP-1 users vs 4,493 matched controls from 26,271 UKA patients.

Why it matters

Joint replacement patients worry about surgical risks from their medications. This data reassures that GLP-1 drugs are safe perioperatively.

How the study worked

Administrative claims database (2009-2022), 1:4 propensity score matching by age, sex, comorbidity burden, obesity class, T2DM status, multivariable logistic regression for 90-day and 1-year outcomes.

What this study cannot tell us

Administrative claims data. Cannot determine GLP-1 drug dose or adherence. Observational design.

How to read the evidence

Large propensity-matched claims study. Reassuring safety signal.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

This adds to growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs are safe around surgery, potentially even beneficial for recovery.

Questions still open

Should GLP-1 drugs be continued perioperatively for joint surgery?
What explains the shorter hospital stays?
Would similar results be seen in total knee or hip replacement?

Common questions

Should I stop my GLP-1 drug before knee surgery?

This study found no increased complications from GLP-1 drug use around knee replacement surgery. Patients actually had shorter hospital stays. Discuss with your surgeon, but the data is reassuring.

Could GLP-1 drugs help with surgical recovery?

Possibly — the shorter hospital stays suggest better recovery. However, the study couldn't definitively prove GLP-1 drugs were the cause. More research is needed.

Read the original research

Outcomes of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty in Patients Receiving Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Agonist Therapy: A Matched Cohort Study.

Arthroplasty today, 38, 101958

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Heo, Kevin Y; Worden, Jacob A; Arellano, Emilio; Chang, Jerry; Ross, Bailey J; Karzon, Anthony L; Premkumar, Ajay; Wilson, Jacob M. (2026). Outcomes of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty in Patients Receiving Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Agonist Therapy: A Matched Cohort Study.. Arthroplasty today, 38, 101958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2026.101958