GLP-1 Drugs Before Bariatric Surgery: No Increased Risk of Post-Operative Kidney Injury
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Preoperative GLP-1 RA exposure was not associated with increased risk of postoperative AKI after metabolic and bariatric surgery.
Key Numbers
How They Did This
Large database study evaluating the association between preoperative GLP-1 RA exposure and postoperative AKI risk in MBS patients.
Why This Research Matters
Bariatric surgery is increasingly performed in patients on GLP-1 drugs. Confirming perioperative kidney safety removes a potential concern for surgeons.
The Bigger Picture
Adds kidney safety to the growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs are safe around bariatric surgery.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective database study. AKI identified by codes. Cannot assess subclinical kidney effects.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Kidneys safe too GLP-1 drugs before bariatric surgery did not increase post-operative kidney injury risk — another perioperative safety confirmation
- Evidence Grade:
- Large database study providing reassuring negative finding.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- Preoperative GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Exposure and Risk of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury after Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Study.
- Published In:
- Obesity surgery, 36(2), 418-428 (2026)
- Authors:
- Hung, Kuo-Chuan(2), Chang, Li-Chen, Tan, Ping-Heng, Hsu, Chih-Wei, Lai, Yi-Chen, Wu, Jheng-Yan, Chen, I-Wen
- Database ID:
- RPEP-15337
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked 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 More on RethinkPeptides
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-15337APA
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
MLA
Hung, Kuo-Chuan, et al. "Preoperative GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Exposure and Risk of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury after Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Study.." Obesity surgery, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-025-08436-w
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Preoperative GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Exposure and Risk of Po..." RPEP-15337. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/hung-2026-preoperative-glp1-receptor-agonists
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.