A large study suggests that certain treatments commonly used in type 2 diabetes may be associated with a higher risk of chronic cough compared to other antidiabetic therapies. The research indicates a statistical link that could be relevant in the evaluation of patients with persistent respiratory symptoms.
Patients with type 2 diabetes who use drugs from the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists have a higher risk of developing chronic cough than those treated with other types of antidiabetic drugs, according to a large study of data from the United States.
The researchers found that the risk of developing a cough lasting more than two months within five years of starting treatment was 12% higher among patients who received a GLP-1 drug.
The analysis was based on data collected between 2005 and 2025 from more than 2 million people with type 2 diabetes, of whom more than 400,000 were treated with GLP-1 drugs.
Included in this category were substances such as semaglutide, the main ingredient in several widely used GLP-1 therapies, as well as other older drugs in the same class.
The authors of the study mention that GLP-1 drugs are known for adverse gastrointestinal effects, because they slow down digestion, and this mechanism can favor the occurrence of gastric acid reflux, a recognized risk factor for cough.
However, the association between GLP-1 use and cough was also seen in patients who did not have acid reflux, according to results published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery.
The researchers emphasize that doctors should consider this potential association when evaluating patients with chronic cough, especially in situations where other causes do not explain the symptoms.
“We recommend that physicians who see patients with chronic cough be aware of this newly identified relationship between GLP-1 medications and cough and ask patients about the use of these treatments,” said Dr. Anca Barbu, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, one of the study’s authors.
The above article is for your personal information only. If you represent a media institution or a company and want an agreement to republish our articles, please send us an email at abonamente@news.ro.
