GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Linked to Reduced Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Study
Poland: A large retrospective cohort study found that patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) who had a history of using GLP-1 receptor agonists for diabetes or obesity experienced significantly lower overall mortality and reduced rates of major cardiovascular events.
The analysis also suggested broader systemic benefits beyond cardiometabolic risk reduction, including lower risks of sepsis, cellulitis, and lymphedema. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic value of GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with HS, although prospective studies are needed to confirm the observed associations.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Given the established cardiometabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists, researchers investigated their association with clinical outcomes in patients with HS. The findings were published as a Research Letter in JAMA Dermatology.
The researchers analyzed TriNetX data from patients diagnosed with HS between January 2015 and March 2026. After propensity score matching, 20,477 patients with a history of at least two GLP-1 receptor agonist prescriptions were compared with an equal number of non-users. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at one and two years.
The key findings of the study included:
- GLP-1 receptor agonist users had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality at both one year (hazard ratio [HR] 0.29) and two years (HR 0.36).
- The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events was significantly reduced after one year (HR 0.70) and remained lower at two years (HR 0.79).
- Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was associated with fewer cardiovascular procedures and reduced risks of ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
- Patients receiving these medications also had significantly lower risks of sepsis, cellulitis, and lymphedema, suggesting benefits that extend beyond cardiovascular protection.
- Stroke risk showed a borderline reduction after one year but became significantly lower after two years of follow-up.
- Sensitivity analyses produced results consistent with the primary findings, and similar benefits were observed among patients without diabetes. Comparable trends were also seen in patients without obesity, although these did not reach statistical significance.
The researchers suggested that the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists likely extend beyond glucose control and may be driven by their anti-inflammatory and cardiometabolic effects. However, they cautioned that, as this was an observational study, a causal relationship cannot be established and residual confounding may remain.
The authors concluded that GLP-1 receptor agonists could serve as a promising adjunctive therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa by reducing cardiovascular and systemic complications. They called for prospective, long-term studies to confirm these findings and better define the drugs' role in HS management.
Reference:
Jastrząb-Miśkiewicz B, Szepietowski JC, Krajewski PK. GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa. JAMA Dermatol. Published online July 01, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.1907
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