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GLP-1 Drugs Before Bariatric Surgery: No Increased Risk of Post-Operative Kidney Injury

RPEP-153372026Hung, Kuo-Chuan; Chang, Li-Chen; Tan, Ping-Heng; Hsu, Chih-Wei; Lai, Yi-Chen; Wu, Jheng-Yan; Chen, I-Wen
evidence
The takeaway

Preoperative GLP-1 RA exposure was not associated with increased risk of postoperative acute kidney injury after metabolic and bariatric surgery in a large database study.

Kidneys safe too

GLP-1 drugs before bariatric surgery did not increase post-operative kidney injury risk — another perioperative safety confirmation

What the researchers found

Preoperative GLP-1 RA exposure was not associated with increased risk of postoperative AKI after metabolic and bariatric surgery.

Why it matters

Bariatric surgery is increasingly performed in patients on GLP-1 drugs. Confirming perioperative kidney safety removes a potential concern for surgeons.

How the study worked

Large database study evaluating the association between preoperative GLP-1 RA exposure and postoperative AKI risk in MBS patients.

What this study cannot tell us

Retrospective database study. AKI identified by codes. Cannot assess subclinical kidney effects.

How to read the evidence

Large database study providing reassuring negative finding.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

Adds kidney safety to the growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs are safe around bariatric surgery.

Questions still open

  • Could GLP-1 drugs actually protect kidneys during surgery?
  • Should GLP-1 drugs be held or continued perioperatively for MBS?
  • Does the finding extend to non-bariatric surgeries?

Common questions

Is it safe for my kidneys to take GLP-1 drugs before weight loss surgery?
Yes. This large study found no increased kidney injury risk from GLP-1 drugs around bariatric surgery. Your kidneys are not put at extra risk.
Should I stop GLP-1 drugs before bariatric surgery?
Not for kidney safety reasons. The main perioperative concern with GLP-1 drugs is gastric emptying/aspiration risk, not kidney injury.

Read the original research

Preoperative GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Exposure and Risk of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury after Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Obesity surgery, 36(2), 418-428

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Hung, Kuo-Chuan; Chang, Li-Chen; Tan, Ping-Heng; Hsu, Chih-Wei; Lai, Yi-Chen; Wu, Jheng-Yan; Chen, I-Wen. (2026). Preoperative GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Exposure and Risk of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury after Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Study.. Obesity surgery, 36(2), 418-428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-025-08436-w