Prolonged use of DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes raises the risk of cholecystitis by over 50% compared with placebo and non-incretin agents, a first-of-its-kind analysis shows.

This elevated risk is comparable to that seen with GLP-1 receptor agonists, which had previously been implicated in the development of impaired gallbladder motility, Chinese investigators say.

In a pairwise meta-analysis of 82 studies, the researchers examined data from more than 104,000 adults with type 2 diabetes to determine whether those prescribed dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors were more likely to report gallbladder or biliary complications.

The average age of the male-majority cohort was 59 years and the mean HbA1c was 8.1% (65mmol/mol).