GLP-1 medications associated with fewer post-surgical cardiac and infection issues
An analysis of more than 2 million U.S. adults who had elective surgery found that GLP-1 users had 11% lower odds of major cardiovascular complications and 8% lower odds of postoperative infections. About 7% of the patients were taking GLP-1 drugs, and researchers matched them with similar nonusers. The study authors said more work is needed to confirm whether the medications cause these benefits.
Presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026, the analysis used de-identified records from Epic Cosmos, covering over 1,700 hospitals and 40,000 clinics. It focused on U.S. adults 18 and older who underwent elective operations longer than an hour and remained hospitalized at least a day, from January 2016 through December 2024.
Among 2,028,601 patients, 145,610—roughly 7%—were GLP-1 users. After matching, their odds were 11% lower for serious cardiac events (heart attack, heart injury, stroke, death) and 8% lower for infections such as surgical-site, urinary, pneumonia, and sepsis. The authors stress that causality remains unproven.
If these associations reflect real effects, patients with diabetes or obesity undergoing elective surgery could see fewer cardiac complications and infections, potentially shortening recovery and reducing hospital burden. Clinicians may need to weigh perioperative GLP-1 management more carefully, though current evidence cannot confirm benefit or guide practice changes. Access, cost, and individual risk factors could shape who experiences any advantage.