Association of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use With Risk of Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
He L, Wang J, Ping F, et al. JAMA Internal Medicine 2022;182:513-519.
What it found
Across 76 randomised trials of GLP-1 receptor agonists as a class, assignment to the drug was linked to a higher risk of gallbladder or bile duct disease (relative risk 1.37), including gallstones and gallbladder inflammation. The increase was larger in weight-loss trials (relative risk 2.29), at higher doses and with longer use.
Limitations
Covers the whole drug class, not semaglutide alone. Gallbladder events were not always systematically collected in the original trials. Absolute risks are low.
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