SUN-576 Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists For Alcohol Use Disorder: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Disclosure: A.A. Lima: None. T. Jacovani Tozzo: None. G. Pereira Benevides: None. D. Abraham Batista da Hora: None. C. de Souza Nascimento: None. A. Henrique de Alencar Quirino: None. M. Dourado Favero: None. A. Menegaz de Almeida: None. F. Alves Kelly: None. A. Beber Pinheiro: None. Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a major public health challenge worldwide, contributing significantly to mortality and social burden. Despite advances in treatment strategies, pharmacological approaches often yield limited long-term success. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1), primarily used for type 2 diabetes and obesity management, have emerged as promising candidates for AUD due to their neuroprotective effects and influence on reward pathways. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GLP-1 agonists in reducing alcohol consumption, highlighting their potential role in transforming the pharmacological treatment of alcoholism. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA Checklist statement. A comprehensive search was performed across the databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering the period from inception to December 7th, 2024. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was used for binary outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). R version 4.4.2 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of three studies were included, assessing 431 patients, with 244 (56,61%) assigned to the intervention group and 187 (42,38%) to the control group. GLP-1 agonists were associated with a significant improvement in alcohol cravings (SMD -0.97; 95% CI -1.78 to -0.17; P = 0.017275 I² = 87.7%). We also identified that GLP-1 agonists slightly reduced the total number of episodes of excessive alcohol consumption (SMD -0.31; 95% CI -0.59 to -0.04; P = 0.024693 I² = 63.8%) and significantly reduced the AUDIT score (SMD -4.30; 95% CI -7.52 to -1.08; P = 0.0088 I² = 78.9%). Conclusion: Our findings support the use of GLP-1 agonists as a new therapeutic approach to reduce alcohol consumption among AUD patients. It is worth noting that, while our study is promising, further trials, with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods, are necessary to better elucidate the underlying mechanisms of GLP-1 agonists and their efficacy for this purpose. Presentation: Sunday, July 13, 2025