by Lori Solomon

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) may protect against vertebral fractures in people with diabetes, according to a research letter published online Dec. 10 inJAMA Surgery.

Wei-Thing Khor, M.D., from the College of Medicine at the National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan, and colleagues assessed the association between GLP-1 RAs and vertebral fractures and related procedures among patients with type 2 diabetes. The analysis included deidentified medical records from 193,563 propensity-matched users and nonusers, identified from the TriNetX database.

The researchers found thatGLP-1 RA usewas associated with significantly lower odds of vertebral compression fractures compared with nonuse (incidence, 1.5 versus 1.8%; odds ratio [OR], 0.83). Similarly, the odds of requiring surgical intervention, such as vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, were significantly lower with GLP-1 RA use (incidence, 0.08 versus 0.10%; OR, 0.80).

"These findings support a potential bone protective role of GLP-1 RAs and underscore the need for prospective studies to confirm causality and elucidate underlying mechanisms," the authors write.

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More information Wei-Thing Khor et al, Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Use and Vertebral Fracture Risk in Type 2 Diabetes, JAMA Surgery (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2025.5372 Journal information: JAMA Surgery