Overview

• The peer-reviewed analysis of over 60,000 obese patients compared 10,111 GLP-1 RA users with 50,555 non-users and showed better asthma control despite only about 0.9 kg average weight loss.
• Treated patients required fewer steroid prescriptions and rescue inhalers, highlighting real-world reductions in medication use among GLP-1 RA recipients.
• Researchers propose that agents like semaglutide and tirzepatide reduce airway inflammation through mechanisms distinct from traditional steroids, offering hope for steroid-resistant asthma.
• Experts call for randomized controlled trials to validate these observational findings, clarify anti-inflammatory pathways and ensure safety before incorporating GLP-1 RAs into asthma guidelines.
• The respiratory benefits build on evidence of cardiovascular, cognitive and mental-health gains from GLP-1 therapies as regulators continue to assess pancreatitis and gastrointestinal safety signals.