Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and risk of acute pancreatitis in patients with type 2 diabetes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RAs) labels warn about acute pancreatitis (AP) and impose upon doctors the obligation to inform patients about symptoms of AP. Here we systematically reviewed the risk of AP in randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of GLP-1RAs in type 2 diabetes. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of long-term (minimum 24 months), placebo-controlled GLP-1RA RCTs in which AP was a predefined adverse event and adjudicated by blinded and independent adjudicating committees. Three high-quality RCTs included a total of 9347 GLP-1RA-treated and 9353 placebo-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. Compared to placebo, treatment with GLP1-RA was not associated with increased risk of AP (Peto odds ratio 0.745 95% CI, 0.47-1.17). Trial Sequential Analysis suggested that additional evidence is needed. In conclusion, this review found no evidence that treatment with GLP-1RA increases the risk of AP in patients with type 2 diabetes.