Prior GLP-1 Usage May Be Associated With Reduced Mortality in Septic Surgical Patients With Obesity

Monday, March 23, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Central Time

Location: Connections Central - RST 16

Jasmine S. Kelley, BS (she/her/hers)

Ohio

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
LS

Lindsay Olivia Stepp, MD, FACS (she/her/hers)

Ohio State University, Ohio

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
HB

Holly Baselice, MPH

Research Administration Manager
The Ohio State University

Disclosure information not submitted.
WH

Willa Hsueh, MD

Professor of Medicine
The Ohio State University

Disclosure information not submitted.
JW

Jon Wisler, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery
The Ohio State University

Disclosure information not submitted.
AJ

Anahita Jalilvand, MD PhD

Assistant Professor of Surgery
The Ohio State University, Ohio

Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Recent data suggests that GLP-1 agonists have anti-inflammatory effects that may reduce immune dysregulation in sepsis. We have previously shown that septic surgical patients with obesity exhibit higher 90-day mortality compared to non-obese cohorts. The objective of this abstract was to characterize the association between pre-admission GLP-1 usage and sepsis outcomes in septic patients with obesity.

Methods: We reviewed all surgical patients with sepsis (SOFA ≥2) at a single institution (n=1386, 2011-2019). Patients were grouped into obese with prior GLP1 usage (OB/GLP, n=15), obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2) without GLP1 (OB, n=748), non-obese without GLP1 (BMI:18.5-29.9kg/m2) (NOB, n=613), and NOB with GLP1 (NOB/GLP, n=10). Demographic data, comorbidities, and sepsis presentation were compared. The primary outcome was cumulative 90-day mortality and survival. A p< 0.05 was significant.

Results: There was no difference in Charlson comorbidity index, age, or admission SOFA scores between all four cohorts. There was no difference in BMI between both obese cohorts. The median months spent on a GLP1 agonist prior to admission was 9.2 (1.4-32.8). Compared to the remaining cohorts, OB/GLP patients presented with more soft tissue infections (36.4% vs 0-18.5%, p = 0.015) and had a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (p < 0.0005). OB/GLP patients had the lowest in-hospital mortality (13.3%) compared to OB (29%), NOB (17.1%), and NOB/GLP patients (20.0%) (p < 0.005). Cumulative 90-day mortality was similarly lower in the OB/GLP cohort (20.0%) compared to OB (35%) and NOB (26.3%) cohorts (p = 0.02). Unadjusted 90-day survival was higher in both GLP cohorts compared to the NOB and OB control cohorts (logrank p < 0.005).

Conclusions: This is a preliminary study limited by a small sample size. Despite the lack of power, these data suggest a possible association between GLP1 usage and sepsis outcomes. This study will provide a platform for upcoming robust analyses to investigate this interaction, specifically evaluating how GLP1 usage may modulate physiologic reserve and sepsis presentation.