Disproportionality analysis of GLP-1 receptor agonists combined with metformin based on the FAERS database.
Boyi Liu, Ruizhe Huang, Wenchao Zhang, Jie Tian, Xian Yao, Danna Chen
Abstract
Open AccessThis study analyzed adverse events (AEs) of GLP-1RA and metformin combination therapy using FAERS data (2004-2024). A retrospective disproportionality analysis was conducted using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) on FAERS data (2004-2024), with Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN) employed for sensitivity analysis. Adverse reactions were compared between combination therapy and monotherapy (GLP-1 RAs or metformin alone), followed by stratified analyses by gender, age, and body weight. Among 48,214 reports (57.5% female), common AEs included nausea and weight loss. Unexpected signals included kidney injury and pancreatic cancer. Monotherapy showed higher AE rates. Males reported more renal calculi and early-onset AEs (≤ 30 days), while females had delayed AEs (> 360 days). Weight loss was consistent across all demographics. The combination therapy of GLP-1 receptor agonists and metformin demonstrates superior safety over monotherapy, while revealing novel adverse events and demographic-specific risk patterns, thereby offering reliable evidence to inform clinical practice.