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Evidence has emerged that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, used primarily for weight loss and diabetes, might improve outcomes for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). How these drugs might improve outcomes related to AUD is not clear; preclinical trials suggest GLP-1 agonists reduce alcohol craving through effects mediated by GLP-1 receptors located in the brain's reward system. To determine whether use of GLP-1 agonists was associated with risk for hospitalization due to AUD, researchers used Swedish nationwide data collected between 2006 and 2023 to identify ≈230,000 patients (age range, 16–64) with diagnoses of AUD. Median follow-up was ≈9 years.
The study involved a within-individual design, in which each individu…