GLP-1 receptor agonist use in Poland surged 60-fold from 2018 to 2024, with obesity as the primary indication and oral semaglutide reaching 50% of all semaglutide prescriptions by 2024.
212 → 12,836 patientsGLP-1 receptor agonist use in Poland grew 60-fold over six years (2018–2024)
What the researchers found
GLP-1 receptor agonist use in Poland increased from 212 patients in 2018 to 12,836 in 2024. Obesity was the primary diagnosis in 78% of all patients, with the highest rates in liraglutide and tirzepatide users. The dulaglutide group had the highest rate of type 2 diabetes (67%), while tirzepatide users had the lowest (15%).
Oral semaglutide's share grew steadily from 2022, reaching 50% of all semaglutide applications by 2024. Oral semaglutide users tended to be younger females with less aggravating medical history compared to those on injectable forms.
Why it matters
This study captures a real-world snapshot of how GLP-1 drug prescribing has evolved in a major European market. The rapid shift toward oral semaglutide and the dominance of obesity as the primary treatment indication reflect broader global trends in how these peptide-based medications are being used, moving beyond their original diabetes focus.
How the study worked
A cohort study using anonymized medical records from 300 outpatient clinics belonging to Luxmed, the largest private healthcare network in Poland. Researchers identified all consecutive patients with at least one GLP-1 RA prescription between January 2018 and December 2024, analyzing clinical characteristics, diagnoses, and prescription patterns.
What this study cannot tell us
Data came from a single private healthcare network (Luxmed) in Poland, which may not represent prescribing patterns in public healthcare or other countries. The study tracked prescriptions rather than outcomes, so it cannot speak to effectiveness or side effects. The dramatic growth may partly reflect increased drug availability and awareness rather than purely clinical need.
How to read the evidence
This is a retrospective cohort study using real-world prescription data from a large private healthcare network. It provides strong descriptive evidence of prescribing trends but cannot establish causation or clinical outcomes.
When this study was published
Published in 2025 with data through December 2024, this study provides the most current available snapshot of GLP-1 prescribing trends in Poland.
The bigger picture
GLP-1 receptor agonists have become one of the most rapidly growing drug classes worldwide, driven by their effectiveness for both diabetes and obesity. This Polish data mirrors global trends: obesity is increasingly the primary reason for prescribing, oral formulations are gaining ground against injectables, and newer agents like tirzepatide are attracting patients with different clinical profiles than older drugs.
Questions still open
- Will oral semaglutide continue to overtake injectable forms as the preferred route of administration globally?
- How do prescribing patterns in Poland's private healthcare differ from its public healthcare system?
- As tirzepatide availability increases, how will it reshape the GLP-1 RA market share relative to semaglutide?
Common questions
Why is oral semaglutide becoming so popular?
Why are most GLP-1 prescriptions now for obesity rather than diabetes?
Read the original research
Various GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Preference Use with a Special Focus on Oral and Subcutaneous Forms in Poland.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(22)
Citation
Nowak, Klaudia; Dziewierz, Artur; Sojda, Aleksandra; Zabojszcz, Michał; Szarpak, Łukasz; Dardzinska, Natalia; Jaskulska, Paulina; Siudak, Zbigniew. (2025). Various GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Preference Use with a Special Focus on Oral and Subcutaneous Forms in Poland.. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222874