A study published in ‘Diabetes Care’ which analyzed the respective associations of premorbid glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use, compared with premorbid dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) use, with the severity of Covid outcomes, revealed that premorbid GLP1-RA and SGLT2i use, compared with DPP4i use, was associated with lower odds of mortality and other adverse outcomes.

      The study was conducted using the observational data from SARS-CoV-2–positive 12,446 individuals in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), a multicenter, longitudinal U.S. cohort with a prescription for GLP1-RA, SGLT2i, or DPP4i within 24 months of positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. The primary outcome was 60-day mortality, measured from positive SARS-CoV-2 test date. Secondary outcomes were total mortality during the observation period and emergency room visits, hospitalization, and mechanical ventilation within 14 days.

      The results showed that both GLP1-RA and SGLT2i use were associated with lower 60-day mortality compared with DPP4i use and were also associated with decreased total mortality, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. The study provides evidence for antihyperglycemic medication class-based differences in COVID-19 outcomes, where the prescription of premorbid GLP1-RA or SGLT2i is associated with lower mortality and other adverse clinical outcomes in the setting of a COVID-19 diagnosis compared with that of DPP4i.