Real-world data from an ambulatory endoscopy center found no increased risk of aspiration or retained gastric contents in patients taking GLP-1 drugs.
No increased aspiration riskDespite delaying gastric emptying, GLP-1 drugs did not increase aspiration events during outpatient upper endoscopy
What the researchers found
GLP-1 receptor agonist use was not associated with increased risk of aspiration or retained gastric contents during outpatient upper endoscopy.
Why it matters
Millions of people take GLP-1 drugs, and many will need endoscopy at some point. This real-world data helps answer practical safety questions about whether patients need to stop their medication before the procedure.
The numbers in context
Records from patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at a hospital-based outpatient center from January onward were reviewed.
How the study worked
Retrospective review of electronic medical records from patients undergoing EGD at a hospital-based outpatient center.
Who was studied
Patients undergoing outpatient upper endoscopy at a tertiary hospital center
What this study cannot tell us
Retrospective study design limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions. The outpatient setting may not reflect higher-risk inpatient populations.
How to read the evidence
Rated moderate: real-world retrospective data from a large center, but limited by the observational design and outpatient-only setting.
When this study was published
Published in 2024. Addresses a timely clinical question as GLP-1 drug use expands rapidly.
The bigger picture
Millions of people on GLP-1 drugs will need endoscopy at some point. Guidelines about whether to hold the medication before procedures have been uncertain. This real-world data provides reassurance for outpatient endoscopy settings.
Questions still open
- Should patients stop GLP-1 drugs before endoscopy?
- Would higher-risk patients (ICU, emergency endoscopy) show different results?
Common questions
Should I stop Ozempic before endoscopy?
Why were doctors worried about GLP-1 drugs and endoscopy?
Read the original research
Real-World Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Endoscopic Patient Outcomes in an Ambulatory Setting: A Retrospective Study at a Large Tertiary Center.
Journal of clinical medicine, 13(18)
Citation
Robalino Gonzaga, Ernesto; Farooq, Aimen; Mohammed, Abdul; Chandan, Saurabh; Fawwaz, Baha; Singh, Gurdeep; Malik, Amna; Zhang, Yiyang; Kadkhodayan, Kambiz. (2024). Real-World Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Endoscopic Patient Outcomes in an Ambulatory Setting: A Retrospective Study at a Large Tertiary Center.. Journal of clinical medicine, 13(18). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13185403