Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use is Not Associated With Increased Complications After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Type-2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have emerged as a powerful diabetic treatment adjunct; however, its effects on outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are not well known. The purpose of this study was to compare the risk of complications after TKA in patients with type-2 diabetes who were on GLP-1 agonists with those who were not.

Methods

In total, 34,696 type 2 diabetes patients undergoing primary TKA between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed utilizing a large national database. Propensity score matching was employed to match patients on GLP-1 agonists to controls at a 1:1 ratio (n = 2388 each). Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to examine 90-day and 1-year TKA outcomes between cohorts.

Results

Controls had higher odds of extended hospital stays (≥3 days) (odds ratio 1.29, P < .001). However, surgical complication rates at 90-days including surgical site infection and prosthetic joint infection were not significantly different. Similarly, no differences were seen in medical complications. There were also no significant differences in rates of all-cause revision TKA and aseptic revision TKA at 1 year postoperatively.

Conclusions

This study found that GLP-1 agonist use was not associated with increased medical or surgical complication rates in patients with diabetes undergoing TKA and was associated with lower rates of extended hospital stays after surgery. Given the potential for increased glycemic control and weight loss in patients using GLP-1 agonists, more data are needed to delineate the potential role of GLP-1 agonists in preoperative optimization of patients with diabetes prior to joint arthroplasty to minimize postoperative complications.