Comparison of Pediatric and Adult Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Exposures Reported To United States Poison Centers, 2017–2024

Abstract

Introduction As glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) use has increased among children, a better understanding of the related adverse effects in this population is needed. Methods National Poison Data System data from 2017 to 2024 were analyzed to compare characteristics and trends of exposures involving GLP-1s reported to United States (US) poison centers (PCs) among children 6–17 years old with those of adults. Results There were 13,924 single-substance GLP-1 exposures reported to US PCs from 2017 to 2024. The rate of exposures per one million US population increased by 1,830.8% from 0.97 in 2017 to 18.79 in 2024, including a 4,805.0% increase among children 6–17 years old from 0.04 in 2017 to 1.97 in 2024, with the majority of the increase occurring after 2021. Most exposures (91.7%) were associated with no or mild effects, while moderate effects were observed in 8.0% and major effects occurred in 42 exposures; there were two deaths. Children 6–17 years old were more likely (RR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.73–4.11) to be admitted than adults, and children 12–17 years old were more likely (RR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.08–2.63) to experience a more serious medical outcome than adults. Children 6–17 years old with at least one clinical effect experienced vomiting (88.2%) more commonly than adults (61.3%) (RR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.34–1.55). Additionally, exposures among children 6–17 years old were more likely to be attributable to intentional misuse (RR: 8.12, 95% CI: 6.47–10.17) than among adults. Conclusions This study provides national-level, real-world findings that may help inform clinical practice.

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