GLP-1 Agonists Linked to Reduced Pain Medication Use and Fewer Pancreatic Procedures in Chronic Pancreatitis: Study
UK: A real-world study published in Gastro Hep Advances found that GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with lower use of pain medications and reduced need for pancreatic interventions, including major surgery, in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The findings suggest these agents may offer potential therapeutic benefits beyond glycemic control in this difficult-to-manage condition.
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-standing inflammatory disease marked by irreversible damage to the pancreas, often leading to persistent abdominal pain, repeated hospital visits, and poor quality of life. Pain management in these patients remains challenging, with many individuals eventually requiring long-term opioid therapy or invasive procedures. Against this backdrop, researchers led by Arkadeep Dhali explored whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), a class of drugs widely used for diabetes and obesity management, could influence pain-related outcomes in chronic pancreatitis.
The investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the TriNetX US Collaborative Network. Adult patients aged 18 years and older with chronic pancreatitis were identified and divided into two groups—those who had been prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists and those who had not received these medications. To minimize bias and ensure balanced comparison, the researchers performed 1:1 propensity score matching based on factors including age, sex, race, and major comorbid conditions.
Following matching, both cohorts included 10,625 patients each, with an average age of nearly 60 years. Women accounted for slightly more than half of the study population. Outcomes were evaluated over a three-year follow-up period using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate hazard ratios.
The study led to the following findings:
- Patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists had a 41% lower risk of initiating chronic opioid therapy compared to non-users.
- The risk of developing opioid use disorder was reduced by 42% among patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists.
- Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was associated with lower rates of invasive pain-related procedures.
- The likelihood of requiring a celiac plexus block for severe pancreatic pain was reduced by nearly 50% in the GLP-1 RA group.
- Patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower need for endoscopic pancreatic interventions.
- GLP-1 receptor agonist use was also linked to a substantially lower risk of undergoing major pancreatic surgery during follow-up.
The authors noted that GLP-1 receptor agonists have previously shown anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models, but evidence regarding their clinical role in chronic pancreatitis has been limited. The current findings suggest these medications may contribute to symptom control and reduce dependence on opioids and invasive procedures in selected patients.
While the study was observational and cannot establish direct causation, the researchers believe the results support further investigation into the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the multidisciplinary management of chronic pancreatitis.
Reference:
Dhali, A., Maity, R., Khan, F., Faisal, A. R., Biswas, J., Bhat, A., & Ghosh, S. (2026). The Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Pain Management in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Real-World Cohort Study. Gastro Hep Advances, 101028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gastha.2026.101028
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