Two retrospective studies have been conducted to assess the impact of the antidiabetic and weight-loss drug semaglutide on patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Researchers have found conflicting results, with some data indicating that the drug helps to avoid complications and other poor outcomes, while other findings suggest no significant differences.
The first study was carried out by researchers at Maimonides Medical Center, where the rates of 90-day readmission and prosthetic joint infections were notably lower among patients taking semaglutide compared to controls. The study, which analyzed data from 2010 to 2021 and compared results from 1,653 THA patients on semaglutide and 7,812 controls, identified strong trends toward lower rates of other adverse outcomes linked with the drug as well.
A second study conducted at Washington University drew different conclusions. Their analysis of medical record outcomes in THA patients taking semaglutide yielded no drastic differences, indicating little evidence that the drug had clear benefits. The Washington University research team analyzed data from the TriNetX system, covering more than 50 healthcare systems. They identified 616 THA patients who had been prescribed semaglutide and possessed a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.
Despite the conflicting findings, researchers from both studies believe that further investigations into a potential link between semaglutide use and its impact on THA outcomes are needed. Weight loss prior to THA has been shown, in previous studies, to lead to fewer complications and better device function.
However, there are limitations to both studies. Most significantly, neither team had access to the prescribing doses or the particular use cases for semaglutide for individual patients. This can affect the reliability of the findings as dosing recommendations differ for weight loss and diabetes, with the higher doses typically used for weight loss. Additionally, semaglutide was only approved for weight loss usage in June 2021, raising questions about the application of these findings to patients using semaglutide specifically for weight loss purposes.
