A retrospective chart review of medication deprescribing trends following GLP-1 agonist initiation at the wright center

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity in the United States represents a growing public health crisis, disproportionately affecting underserved populations who rely on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has shown efficacy in improving glycemic control and promoting weight loss, potentially reducing the need for multiple medications used to manage comorbidities.
Objective: To evaluate whether semaglutide treatment is associated with a measurable reduction in the number of medications required to manage comorbid conditions related to T2DM and obesity.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 100 randomly selected adult patients with T2DM and obesity (BMI>27) who had been prescribed a semaglutide for at least twelve months. Charts were reviewed using standardized protocols and strict eligibility criteria. A voluntary phone survey was also conducted to assess patients' knowledge of their medications and attitudes toward their effects.
Results: Of the 100 charts reviewed, 33 patients met the inclusion criteria of having at least 12 months continuous semaglutide use. Statistically significant improvements were observed in BMI (p < 0.001), systolic (p = 0.001) and diastolic (p = 0.002) blood pressure. Nearly half of patients (48.5%) were deprescribed at least one medication, though this change was not statistically significant (p = 0.613).
Conclusion: A positive association was identified between prolonged semaglutide use and reduced reliance on polypharmacy, along with improvements in BMI and blood pressure. These findings highlight the need for future studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods to better understand the long-term impact of GLP-1 agonist-driven deprescribing.