S754 Investigating the Prescription Patterns of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Medications in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis and Obesity

Introduction: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) have shown significant efficacy in managing obesity. However, some patients experience complications that limit their therapeutic benefits, including pancreatitis. While acute pancreatitis (AP) has been reported in association with GLP-1 use, a direct causal relationship remains unconfirmed. However, recurrent episodes of AP may progress to chronic pancreatitis (CP). Our study aims to evaluate the prevalence of obesity among patients with CP, the frequency of GLP-1 RA prescriptions in this cohort, and their healthcare utilization patterns. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study utilizing the Slicer Dicer database within the Epic electronic health record at a single, tertiary care referral center in the United States. The study period spanned November 2019 to November 2024. Inclusion criteria included patients with a prior CP diagnosis and those newly diagnosed with obesity within this timeframe. The dataset was refined to individuals prescribed a GLP-1—specifically semaglutide, tirzepatide, or liraglutide—within 12 months of their obesity diagnosis. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square testing. Results: Among 3,388 patients with CP, 19% (n = 659) were diagnosed with obesity at a later clinical encounter. Of these, 15% (n = 100) were prescribed a GLP-1, totaling 124 new prescriptions. Semaglutide was the most frequently prescribed (58%), followed by tirzepatide (31%) and liraglutide (11%). Patients using GLP-1 RAs demonstrated significantly higher healthcare utilization than non-GLP-1 users, with emergency department visits averaging 6 vs 3.7 per patient (P < 0.001) and hospital admissions averaging 4.1 vs 3.2 per patient (P < 0.001) over 5 years. Conclusion: Our study highlights the clinical complexity in managing obesity in individuals with CP. While 19% of CP patients were diagnosed with obesity, only 15% received a GLP-1 prescription, suggesting potential provider hesitancy due to concerns of AP. Increased healthcare utilization among GLP-1 users highlights the need for closer monitoring and the development of tailored approaches to identify predictive markers for individuals at increased risk of CP complications. Future longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the safety profile of GLP-1s in patients with CP and obesity in order to develop personalized obesity management strategies, while minimizing adverse effects and ensuring the maximum therapeutic benefit of GLP-1s in this population.