Semaglutide and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: An Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics Network Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential association of semaglutide use and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD).

DESIGN

Retrospective study across 12 databases in the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics network from December 1, 2017, through December 31, 2024.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) taking semaglutide, other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs; e.g., dulaglutide or exenatide), or non-GLP-1RAs (e.g., empagliflozin, sitagliptin, or glipizide).

METHODS

The association between semaglutide use and NVAMD was assessed using 2 approaches: an active-comparator cohort design and a self-controlled case series analysis. The former used propensity score-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). The latter used conditional Poisson regression models to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs). A random-effects meta-analysis was used to generate network-wide HR and IRR estimates.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two definitions of NVAMD, one based on condition codes alone (NVAMD-C) and one based on condition codes and procedures (NVAMD-CP).

RESULTS

A total of 227 971 new users of semaglutide were included in the study. The risk of NVAMD among semaglutide users was similar to that of users of dulaglutide (NVAMD-C: HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.21-1.57; P = 0.28; NVAMD-CP: HR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.05-1.27; P = 0.10), empagliflozin (NVAMD-C: HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.54-1.79; P = 0.94; NVAMD-CP: HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.38-1.64; P = 0.52), sitagliptin (NVAMD-C: HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 0.90-4.83; P = 0.09; NVAMD-CP: HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 0.55-5.86; P = 0.33), and glipizide (NVAMD-C: HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.35-2.02; P = 0.69; NVAMD-CP: HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.21-1.19; P = 0.12). No evidence was found of increased or decreased risk for NVAMD associated with semaglutide exposure (NVAMD-C: IRR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.67-1.26; P = 0.60; NVAMD-CP: IRR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.76-1.36; P = 0.92) nor with any of the other GLP-1RAs or non-GLP-1RAs.

CONCLUSIONS

We detected no differences in the risk of NVAMD associated with semaglutide use among adults with T2D.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.