Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist-Induced Cholecystitis and Cholelithiasis: A Real-World Pharmacovigilance Analysis Using the FAERS Database

Chao Tao^1,2Yinhui Zhang^1,2Tenggang Wan^3,4Wenting Zhao²Jing Chen⁵Ke Wang^1,2Liuxuan Yang¹Wang Guojun¹Qian Ding^5*Meiling Zhou^6*

• ¹Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
• ²Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
• ³Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
• ⁴Rehabilitation Medicine and Engineering Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Luzhou, China
• ⁵Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Mianyang/Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, China
• ⁶The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China

Background: With the widespread use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in managing diabetes and obesity, the occurrence of GLP-1 RA-induced cholecystitis and cholelithiasis has raised increasing concern among healthcare professionals.Methods: This study extracted adverse event (AE) reports of GLP-1 RA-induced cholecystitis and cholelithiasis from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database, covering Q1 2004 to Q2 2024. Disproportionality analysis methods, including the reporting odds ratio, proportional reporting ratio, and Bayesian confidence propagation neural network, were employed to identify associations between GLP-1 RAs and these AEs. The analysis focused on the five most commonly prescribed GLP-1 RAs, evaluated at both high-level term and preferred term levels.Results: A total of 1,829 reports were identified in which GLP-1 RAs were listed as the primary suspect drug, involving 1,651 patients. All three signal detection methods indicated a positive signal between GLP-1 RAs and these conditions. The majority of cases occurred in patients aged 45 years and older, with a significantly higher prevalence in females. The median onset time of GLP-1 RA-induced cholecystitis and cholelithiasis was 182 days, with variations observed across different drugs, genders, and age groups.Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive pharmacovigilance analysis of GLP-1 RA-induced cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, offering valuable insights into the prevention and management of these AEs.