- New research indicates that weight loss medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, could substantially decrease the necessity for knee replacement surgery for certain patients.
- A study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine analysed patient data from 2010 to 2024, focusing on the use of GLP-1 drugs among individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.
- The findings demonstrated a “significantly lower incidence” of total knee replacements among those who had taken GLP-1s, with this protective effect becoming more pronounced with extended treatment periods and newer generations of the drugs.
- Researchers estimated that a 1.44 per cent absolute risk reduction over one year could result in 14,400 fewer knee replacements annually in the US, assuming patients used newer GLP-1s for three years.
- While the study suggests a potential “disease-modifying activity beyond weight loss alone,” experts like Professor Lucy Donaldson from Arthritis UK view the findings as encouraging for osteoarthritis management, pending further prospective trials.
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