In patients with diabetes and established diabetic retinopathy, treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists is associated with increased risks of diabetic retinopathy progression compared with SGLT-2 inhibitors, according to a study in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Researchers in Taiwan examined the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) on the development or progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Their analysis included 11,000 patients treated with a GLP-1 RA and 22,000 patients given an SGLT-2i, with 14% of those in both groups having retinopathy at baseline.

The researchers found that in patients with pre-existing retinopathy, the incidence of any progression event was 50% higher in the GLP-1 RA group than the SGLT-2i group.