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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0JAMA Network Open

GLP-1 RA Prescribing in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer

  • Xin Hu1,2,3
  • Changchuan Jiang4
  • Xuesong Han5
  • Lu Zhang6
  • Piaopiao Li7,8
  • Francisco J. Pasquel9,10
  • Jane L. Meisel11
  • Jacqueline B. Vo2,12
  • Jithin Sam Varghese9
  • Hui Shao9
  • Ilana Graetz1,2,3
12 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
  2. 2Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
  3. 3Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia
  4. 4Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
  5. 5American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
  6. 6Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
  7. 7Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
  8. 8Emory Global Diabetes Research Center of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
  9. 9Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
  10. 10Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
  11. 11Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
  12. 12Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, Georgia
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Abstract

Importance: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly used to treat type 2 diabetes, yet little is known about its utilization patterns in patients with cancer history, given limited oncology-specific guidance.

Objective: To evaluate trends and factors associated with GLP-1 RA use among Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes, comparing those with and without cancer history.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare linked data to identify patients diagnosed with 7 common cancers in 2010 to 2021 and preexisting type 2 diabetes before cancer diagnosis. A noncancer cohort with type 2 diabetes was identified from a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries and matched 1:1 to patients with cancer based on sociodemographic characteristics; controls were assigned a pseudo–index date corresponding to their matched patient’s cancer diagnosis date. Beneficiaries were followed up annually until death or December 31, 2022, for TM or December 31, 2021, for MA. Data were analyzed from December 2025 to July 2026.

Exposures: Diagnosis of 1 of 7 common cancers.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Any GLP-1 RA use. Proportions of beneficiaries with any GLP-1 RA use annually were stratified by traditional Medicare (TM) and Medicare Advantage (MA). Multivariable logistic regression examined (1) differences in GLP-1RA use between cancer and noncancer cohorts with and without adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities and diabetes-related complications; (2) cancer-specific factors associated with GLP-1RA use among the cancer cohort after 2018.

Results: A total of 373 278 Medicare beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 76.1 [6.6] years; 188 746 [50.6%] female) with cancer and diabetes and 373 278 noncancer controls (153 358 unique beneficiaries) were included. GLP-1 RA use increased from 85 beneficiaries (0.5%) to 9083 beneficiaries (8.2%) and from 138 beneficiaries (0.9%) to 9300 beneficiaries (6.2%) in the cancer and noncancer cohorts, respectively, from 2010 to 2022 under TM; a similar increase was observed under MA. Despite higher unadjusted GLP-1 RA use among the cancer cohort than the noncancer cohort (probability difference, TM: 1.19 [95% CI, 0.94 to 1.44] percentage points [pp]; P < .001; MA: 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21 to 0.68] pp, P < .001), adjusted analysis showed no significant differences in GLP-1 RA use under TM (adjusted probability difference, 0.16 [95% CI, −0.10 to 0.41,] pp; P = .22) and lower use among cancer cohort under MA (−0.52 [95% CI, −0.76 to −0.28] pp; P < .001). Complications or comorbidities, including obesity (adjusted probability difference, TM: 3.35 [95% CI, 3.10 to 3.61] pp; P < .001; MA: 2.42 [95% CI, 2.19 to 2.64] pp; P < .001), dyslipidemia (adjusted probability difference, TM: 2.26 [95% CI, 2.03 to 2.50] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.80 [95% CI, 1.57 to 2.03] pp; P < .001), neuropathy (adjusted probability difference: TM: 3.91 [95% CI, 3.64 to 4.19] pp; P < .001; MA: 3.17 [95% CI, 2.94 to 3.41] pp; P < .001), retinopathy (adjusted probability difference, TM: 2.02 [95% CI, 1.78 to 2.27] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.84 [95% CI, 1.63 to 2.06] pp; P < .001), and chronic kidney disease (adjusted probability difference, TM: 2.01 [95% CI, 1.76 to 2.26] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.63 [95% CI, 1.40 to 1.85] pp; P < .001) were associated with greater likelihood of GLP-1RA use. Within the cancer cohort, breast (adjusted probability difference, TM: 1.05 [95% CI, 0.43 to 1.66] pp; P = .001; MA: 0.89 [95% CI, 0.37 to 1.41] pp; P = .001), gynecologic (adjusted probability difference, MA: 1.13 [95% CI, 0.45 to 1.81] pp; P = .001), and prostate (adjusted probability difference, TM: 1.30 [95% CI, 0.72 to 1.88] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.07 [95% CI, 0.56 to 1.58] pp; P < .001) cancers were associated with higher GLP-1 RA use than colorectal cancer, while pancreatic cancer was associated with lower GLP-1 RA use (adjusted probability difference, TM: −2.55 [95% CI, −3.17 to −1.93] pp; P < .001; MA: −1.64 [95% CI, −2.23 to −1.05] pp; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance: In this retrospective study of Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 RA use increased substantially and primarily was associated with metabolic risk profile, with limited associations with cancer status. Variation across cancer types and stages suggests oncologic context may influence prescribing.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{hu2026glp1,
  title = {{GLP-1 RA Prescribing in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer}},
  author = {Xin Hu and Changchuan Jiang and Xuesong Han and Lu Zhang and Piaopiao Li and Francisco J. Pasquel and Jane L. Meisel and Jacqueline B. Vo and Jithin Sam Varghese and Hui Shao and Ilana Graetz},
  journal = {JAMA Network Open},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.40781},
  url = {https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2855863},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - GLP-1 RA Prescribing in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer
AU  - Xin Hu
AU  - Changchuan Jiang
AU  - Xuesong Han
AU  - Lu Zhang
AU  - Piaopiao Li
AU  - Francisco J. Pasquel
AU  - Jane L. Meisel
AU  - Jacqueline B. Vo
AU  - Jithin Sam Varghese
AU  - Hui Shao
AU  - Ilana Graetz
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/27
JO  - JAMA Network Open
DO  - 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.40781
UR  - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2855863
AB  - Importance: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly used to treat type 2 diabetes, yet little is known about its utilization patterns in patients with cancer history, given limited oncology-specific guidance.  Objective: To evaluate trends and factors associated with GLP-1 RA use among Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes, comparing those with and without cancer history.  Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare linked data to identify patients diagnosed with 7 common cancers in 2010 to 2021 and preexisting type 2 diabetes before cancer diagnosis. A noncancer cohort with type 2 diabetes was identified from a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries and matched 1:1 to patients with cancer based on sociodemographic characteristics; controls were assigned a pseudo–index date corresponding to their matched patient’s cancer diagnosis date. Beneficiaries were followed up annually until death or December 31, 2022, for TM or December 31, 2021, for MA. Data were analyzed from December 2025 to July 2026.  Exposures: Diagnosis of 1 of 7 common cancers.  Main Outcomes and Measures: Any GLP-1 RA use. Proportions of beneficiaries with any GLP-1 RA use annually were stratified by traditional Medicare (TM) and Medicare Advantage (MA). Multivariable logistic regression examined (1) differences in GLP-1RA use between cancer and noncancer cohorts with and without adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities and diabetes-related complications; (2) cancer-specific factors associated with GLP-1RA use among the cancer cohort after 2018.  Results: A total of 373 278 Medicare beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 76.1 [6.6] years; 188 746 [50.6%] female) with cancer and diabetes and 373 278 noncancer controls (153 358 unique beneficiaries) were included. GLP-1 RA use increased from 85 beneficiaries (0.5%) to 9083 beneficiaries (8.2%) and from 138 beneficiaries (0.9%) to 9300 beneficiaries (6.2%) in the cancer and noncancer cohorts, respectively, from 2010 to 2022 under TM; a similar increase was observed under MA. Despite higher unadjusted GLP-1 RA use among the cancer cohort than the noncancer cohort (probability difference, TM: 1.19 [95% CI, 0.94 to 1.44] percentage points [pp]; P < .001; MA: 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21 to 0.68] pp, P < .001), adjusted analysis showed no significant differences in GLP-1 RA use under TM (adjusted probability difference, 0.16 [95% CI, −0.10 to 0.41,] pp; P = .22) and lower use among cancer cohort under MA (−0.52 [95% CI, −0.76 to −0.28] pp; P < .001). Complications or comorbidities, including obesity (adjusted probability difference, TM: 3.35 [95% CI, 3.10 to 3.61] pp; P < .001; MA: 2.42 [95% CI, 2.19 to 2.64] pp; P < .001), dyslipidemia (adjusted probability difference, TM: 2.26 [95% CI, 2.03 to 2.50] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.80 [95% CI, 1.57 to 2.03] pp; P < .001), neuropathy (adjusted probability difference: TM: 3.91 [95% CI, 3.64 to 4.19] pp; P < .001; MA: 3.17 [95% CI, 2.94 to 3.41] pp; P < .001), retinopathy (adjusted probability difference, TM: 2.02 [95% CI, 1.78 to 2.27] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.84 [95% CI, 1.63 to 2.06] pp; P < .001), and chronic kidney disease (adjusted probability difference, TM: 2.01 [95% CI, 1.76 to 2.26] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.63 [95% CI, 1.40 to 1.85] pp; P < .001) were associated with greater likelihood of GLP-1RA use. Within the cancer cohort, breast (adjusted probability difference, TM: 1.05 [95% CI, 0.43 to 1.66] pp; P = .001; MA: 0.89 [95% CI, 0.37 to 1.41] pp; P = .001), gynecologic (adjusted probability difference, MA: 1.13 [95% CI, 0.45 to 1.81] pp; P = .001), and prostate (adjusted probability difference, TM: 1.30 [95% CI, 0.72 to 1.88] pp; P < .001; MA: 1.07 [95% CI, 0.56 to 1.58] pp; P < .001) cancers were associated with higher GLP-1 RA use than colorectal cancer, while pancreatic cancer was associated with lower GLP-1 RA use (adjusted probability difference, TM: −2.55 [95% CI, −3.17 to −1.93] pp; P < .001; MA: −1.64 [95% CI, −2.23 to −1.05] pp; P < .001).  Conclusions and Relevance: In this retrospective study of Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 RA use increased substantially and primarily was associated with metabolic risk profile, with limited associations with cancer status. Variation across cancer types and stages suggests oncologic context may influence prescribing.
SN  - 2574-3805
ER  -