Efficacy and Safety of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in the Management of Weight Recurrence or Suboptimal Clinical Response after Undergoing Metabolic Bariatric Surgeries: A Meta-Analysis

Background There is a pressing requirement to formulate innovative approaches for addressing inadequate weight loss or recurrence in individuals following metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS). Glucagon-like peptide- 1 (GLP- 1) analogues such as liraglutide and semaglutide have been formulated for treating type 2 diabetes or managing obesity. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to pool the results from all available studies on GLP- 1 agonists to assess the efficacy of these drugs in weight recurrence or suboptimal clinical response of patients who underwent MBS. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception till October 2024 for articles that fulfil our eligibility to be included in the systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the use of GLP- 1 agonists in the management of weight recurrence or suboptimal clinical response in patients who underwent MBS. The search strategy was as follows: "Liraglutide" OR "Semaglutide" OR "Tirzepatide" OR "GLP- 1" OR "Glucagon like peptide" AND "Weight" AND "Bariatric" OR "Sleeve" OR "Banding" OR "Roux-en-Y bypass. We used the mean difference (MD) to compare between continuous variables at a confidence interval (CI) of 95%, and p-value of 0.05. Results The use of GLP- 1 agonists (liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide) was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the weight of the included patients showing an overall MD = 8.07 kg (95%CI: 5.5, 10.64, p < 0.00001) and I-2 = 44%, p = 0.04. Moreover, these drugs (liraglutide, and semaglutide) showed significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) after treatment with overall MD = 4.42 kg/m2 (95%CI: 3.42, 5.42, p < 0.00001), and I-2= 67%, p = 0.0005. Compared with control group, the use of GLP- 1 agonists was associated with reduced weight with MD = - 9.19% (95%CI: - 10.81, - 7.58, p < 0.00001) and I-2= 0%. However, no difference was observed between both groups regarding BMI change with MD = - 1.97% (95%CI: - 4.65, 0.71, p = 0.15). Conclusion GLP- 1 agonists such as liraglutide and semaglutide effectively lower body weight and BMI in patients who suffer from weight recurrence or suboptimal clinical response after undergoing MBS. However, future studies are still warranted to investigate the most appropriate protocols for management.