Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use Does Not Impact Spine Surgery Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors

Syed Ibrahim, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Abrahim Durrani, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Muhammad Talal Ibrahim, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, USA
Nicolas Kuttner, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, USA
Phillip Glivar, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, USA
Varun Kumar Singh, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, USA
Elizabeth Yu, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, USA

Document Type

Artefact

Department

Medical College Pakistan

Abstract

Study DesignSystematic Review and Meta-Analysis.ObjectivesDespite a surge in the use of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in spine surgery candidates, evidence on their perioperative use remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the evidence on the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 RA use in patients undergoing spine surgeries.MethodsA systematic search of PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was conducted. Studies that compared spine surgery outcomes in GLP-1 RA users and non-users were included. Two reviewers independently selected articles. (PROSPERO: CRD420251061447).ResultsEleven retrospective studies reporting on 27,143 patients were included. Three studies focused on the cervical spine, 6 on the lumbar spine, and 2 included all spinal fusions. Risk of bias was deemed to be low in all studies. There were no significant differences in the GLP-1 RA users and non-users in pooled estimates for pseudoarthrosis (odds ratio: 1.29 [95% CI: 0.09 - 19.23]), surgical site infections (0.97 [0.74 - 1.27]), pneumonia (1.19 [0.30 - 4.68]), deep vein thrombosis (1.34 [0.86 - 2.08]), acute kidney injury (1.27 [0.93 - 1.74]), readmission rate (1.06 [0.94 - 1.18]), and emergency department visits (0.95 [0.10 - 8.99]).ConclusionsCurrently available level 4 evidence suggests that perioperative GLP-1 RA use in spine surgery candidates does not affect the risk of postoperative complications. However, these studies are based on administrative databases and may be confounded by indication. Future studies should include glycemic control and weight loss to better elucidate the impact of GLP-1 RA.

Comments

Volume,issue and pagination are not provided by author/publisher.

AKU Student

no

Publication (Name of Journal)

Global Spine Journal

DOI

10.1177/21925682251415347

Recommended Citation

Ibrahim, S., Durrani, A., Ibrahim, M. T., Kuttner, N., Glivar, P., Singh, V. K., Yu, E. (2026). Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use Does Not Impact Spine Surgery Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Global Spine Journal.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_mc/579