EULAR26: GLP-1 Agonist Use in the RISE Registry Save

At EULAR 2026, McCormick and Curtis et al presented data from the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry on the use of GLP-1 agents in rheumatic diseases (RMD). 

A key recommendation for people with RMD is to maintain a healthy weight – which can help to improve disease activity, function, and patient-reported outcomes in RMD. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity, and understanding their use patterns and effects in RMD is crucial. Data from over 60,000 RMD patients using a GLP-1RA were collected from the RISE registry.

The mean baseline BMI was 36.3 and two-thirds had diabetes. Across all RMD cohorts, the highest proportion of GLP-RA use for weight loss was in people with psoriatic arthritis, followed by ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. At 12 months in an intent-to-treat analysis, non-diabetic tirzepatide users lost 8% of their starting body weight, compared to 6% with semaglutide. Diabetic users lost somewhat less weight – but showed a similar pattern, with tirzepatide consistently outperforming semaglutide. Weight loss plateaued after 12 months. 

Ongoing work is evaluating the impact of GLP-1RA on disease activity, function, and patient-reported outcomes in RMD, as well as to understand the magnitude of weight loss in relation to GLP-1 dose and adherence.

Source

McCormick N, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists to Facilitate Weight Loss and Improve Disease Activity, Pain and Function in Patients with Rheumatic and Muskuloskeletal Disease: Real-World Evidence From the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry. Presented at EULAR 2026; OP0112. Ann Rheum Dis 2026; DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2026-eular.A.1843.