A new study has found that injectable weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy may help significantly reduce sudden and severe asthma attacks.
According to British scientists, GLP-1 receptor agonist drug used to treat diabetes and for weight loss may potentially lower the risk of dangerous worsening of asthma symptoms.
Lead researcher Chloe Bloom said that GLP-1 receptor agonists are widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Previous research has also suggested that these drugs may have anti-inflammatory properties and could improve lung-related outcomes.
Researchers reviewed electronic medical records in the UK and conducted four separate studies. Each study included nearly 20,000 to 22,000 people who had either started GLP-1 treatment or were using another diabetes drug, sulfonylurea.
The study found that people with respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD who were prescribed GLP-1 drugs had fewer asthma attacks and fewer sudden COPD flare-ups compared to those using other diabetes medications.
Chloe Bloom of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London said the effect was most pronounced with semaglutide, particularly in asthma patients, where semaglutide use was linked to an almost 40 percent reduction in asthma attacks.
Researchers say the findings point to a potential link between GLP-1 drugs and respiratory disease. However, they added that more research is needed to test the effectiveness and safety of using these drugs as a treatment for asthma.
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