In addition to weight loss, glucagon-like peptide‑1 receptor agonists (GLP‑1 RAs) may also significantly reduce asthma exacerbations in nondiabetic patients with excess weight. That’s according to researchers from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School who presented data at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.
Research that analyzed global electronic health record data from the TriNetX network is the largest retrospective cohort study to date examining the relationship between GLP‑1 therapy and asthma outcomes in patients who are overweight or obese but do not have diabetes. The findings from the paper, “Association Between Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Asthma Exacerbations in Nondiabetic Patients With Obesity: Cohort Study,” were recently published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The study followed three groups over a three‑year period, comparing patients who initiated a GLP‑1 drug to matched controls in people who did not receive the medication. Patients were grouped by BMI: 710 patients were considered overweight, 1,515 were considered obese and 1,249 were considered morbidly obese.
Across all groups, GLP‑1 therapy was associated with a significant reduction in asthma exacerbations. According to the results:
- Patients who were overweight experienced 14.6% fewer exacerbations.
- Patients who were obese experienced 12.2% fewer exacerbations.
- Patients who were morbidly obese experienced 13.3% fewer exacerbations.
According to the study’s authors, the findings suggest that GLP‑1 medications — also known for improving metabolic markers — may play a protective role in the respiratory health of asthma patients.
Researchers said that although GLP‑1 drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have soared in popularity for weight management, their potential benefits for lung function have not been fully explored. Previous research hinted at anti-inflammatory or airway‑stabilizing effects of GLP‑1 drugs, they noted in the paper, but most studies were small or focused on people with diabetes. The recent analysis expands the evidence base to a much broader population — and its large sample size strengthens confidence in the results.
More research is needed to determine whether GLP‑1 drugs directly improve airway inflammation or whether the effect is driven primarily by weight loss, researchers said, adding that randomized controlled trials would help clarify mechanisms and guide clinical recommendations.
For now, the study provides compelling evidence that these increasingly common medications may offer unexpected respiratory benefits for a vulnerable patient population.
