Patients keeping GPs in the dark about GLP-1 use, obesity expert warns
Dr Mark Mellor says patients may keep their weight loss medications to themselves because of shame and stigma.
Anaesthetists may not be the only doctors left in the dark about their patients’ GLP-1 receptor agonist use, with GPs also flagging non-disclosure as a concern.
The issue is emerging as patients source prescriptions outside of their regular GPs, such as through corporate telehealth clinics.
A recent survey of more than 500 patients by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists found that one in five young adults failed to disclose their GLP-1 RA use to an anaesthetist.
The clinical concerns were obviously about the stomach emptying more slowly, raising the chance of pulmonary aspiration during the surgery.
