GLP-1 ⁣Receptor Agonists Show Promise in Reducing Risk⁢ of Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Psoriasis in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

TOPLINE:

New research suggests that treatment with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications may be associated with‍ a lower risk ⁢of developing hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) or psoriasis in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODOLOGY:

A comprehensive study analyzed data from 74,910 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, drawn from the All of Us Database between May 2018 and October 2023. The patient cohort had a mean age of 65 years,with 56% being women and a demographic breakdown of 45% White and 23% Black individuals. Within this group, 19.5% of patients were receiving GLP-1 RA ⁤medications. The primary focus of the research was ⁢to evaluate the risks‍ for HS and psoriasis, with adjustments made to account for the medications’ effects on⁤ diabetes control and weight loss.

KEY FINDINGS:

The study revealed significant associations between GLP-1 RA use and reduced risks for both HS and psoriasis.

Psoriasis ⁣and HS Prevalence: 1601 ⁢patients in ‍the study cohort were diagnosed with psoriasis, ⁢with a mean age of 68 years, 56.4% women, and a demographic split of 62.4% White and⁣ 12.2% Black individuals. Hidradenitis suppurativa was diagnosed in 601 patients, who ‍were younger on average (mean age 55 years), with a higher proportion of women (77.2%) and a ⁢different demographic profile (32.9% White and 41.3% Black individuals).
Reduced Risk for HS: Patients treated with GLP-1 RAs demonstrated a statistically significant lower risk of a future HS diagnosis. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 0.61, with a p-value less than .001, indicating a protective effect.
Reduced Risk for Psoriasis: Similarly, GLP-1 RA treatment was linked to a substantial reduction in the risk for a future psoriasis diagnosis. ‍The adjusted odds‍ ratio was 0.41, also with a p-value less than .001, underscoring its potential benefit.
Disease Onset: The average time from a T2D diagnosis to an HS diagnosis was 3.98 years, and to a psoriasis diagnosis was 3.44 years.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE:

“These⁤ findings support a protective effect against HS and psoriasis in patients with T2DM taking GLP-1 RAs autonomous of weight loss, ⁣smoking status, or glycemic control,” stated the study authors. They⁣ further⁤ suggested that “future research should focus on prospective studies exploring the use of GLP-1 RAs as therapeutic tools to treat HS or psoriasis, prevent disease progression, and evaluate their effect in patients without diabetes.” this research opens avenues for considering GLP-1 RAs not just for diabetes management but also for their potential dermatological benefits.

SOURCE:

This groundbreaking study was led by Lauren M. Ching from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. The findings were published online on July 23, ‍2025, in the journal Jaad International.

STUDY LIMITATIONS:

The researchers acknowledged several limitations that⁤ could influence the interpretation of the‍ results.These include variations in data harmonization‍ across different study sites, a lack of detailed facts regarding disease severity, and potential⁣ selection ⁤bias inherent in the study design.

DISCLOSURES:

The study received no external funding. One author reported receiving financial support as ⁢an investigator, consultant, and speaker from pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie, BMS, and ⁣Eli Lilly, as well as other drug manufacturers. ⁢All other authors declared no conflicts of interest.