Certain Glucose-Lowering Meds Associated With Lower Risk for COPD Exacerbations
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2025 -- For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are associated with a reduced risk for moderate or severe COPD exacerbations compared with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), according to a study published online Feb. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Avik Ray, M.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues conducted a comparative effectiveness study to assess the risk for moderate or severe COPD exacerbations among patients aged 40 years or older with T2D and active COPD who initiated treatment with SGLT-2is versus DPP-4is; GLP-1 RAs versus DPP-4is; and SGLT-2is versus GLP-1 RAs (27,991; 32,107; and 36,218 pairs, respectively).
The researchers found that the risk for moderate or severe COPD exacerbation was lower among those treated with SGLT-2is versus DPP-4is and among those treated with GLP-1 RAs versus DPP-4is (9.26 versus 11.4 per 100 person-years [hazard ratio, 0.81] and 9.89 versus 11.49 per 100 person-years [hazard ratio, 0.86], respectively), with minimal differences observed among those treated with SGLT-2is versus GLP-1 RAs. Across sensitivity and subgroup analyses, the results were consistent.
"These findings suggest that SGLT-2is and GLP-1 RAs may be preferable to DPP4is when deciding among glucose-lowering medications for patients with T2D and active COPD," the authors write. "However, given the observational nature of the study, there is potential for residual or unmeasured confounding, and findings from similar clinical studies and clinical trials will help corroborate these results."
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry; one author disclosed being an expert witness in litigation against inhaler manufacturers.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Adults With Learning Disabilities, New Diabetes Have Shorter Time to Insulin Initiation
THURSDAY, Sept. 4, 2025 -- Adults with learning disabilities and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) have better short-term glycemic control, but also faster progression to...
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Linked to Reduced Risk for Developing Uveitis
TUESDAY, Sept. 2, 2025 -- Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are associated with a reduction in the risk for developing uveitis, according to a study published...
AI-Enabled Bundle of Sensors, Coaching Aids Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes
THURSDAY, Aug. 28, 2025 -- An artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled bundled system of sensors and coaching facilitates significant improvements in glycemic outcomes and...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.