Mortality rates are lower in people with type 2 diabetes who are using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) compared to those not using these drugs, research has suggested.
Academics from Emory University in Atlanta have found that GLP-1 RAs significantly protect people with type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) from mortality.
As part of the study, the team of researchers examined the health outcomes of 1,799,261 adults with type 2 diabetes.
Each participant was placed into one of the following groups: without OSA and prescribed metformin, without OSA and prescribed metformin and GLP-1 RAs, with OSA and prescribed metformin and with OSA and prescribed metformin and GLP-1 RAs.
The results have revealed that the participants prescribed GLP-1 RAs had a reduced one-year mortality compared to those only prescribed metformin.
In addition, participants with OSA experienced a 20% greater mortality benefit from taking GLP-1 RAs compared to those without OSA.
First author Dr Cosmo Fowler said: “This large-scale analysis suggests that OSA status may act as an effect modifier in the association between GLP-1 RA prescription and mortality.”
