Various GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Preference Use with a Special Focus on Oral and Subcutaneous Forms in Poland.
Nowak. Klaudia K; Dziewierz. Artur A; Sojda. Aleksandra A; Zabojszcz. Michał M; Szarpak. Łukasz Ł; Dardzinska. Natalia N; Jaskulska. Paulina P; Siudak. Zbigniew Z
Key Findings
- GLP‑1 RA prescriptions rose from 212 in 2018 to 12,836 in 2024, indicating rapid adoption.
- 78% of users were treated for obesity, with liraglutide and tirzepatide most common for this indication.
- Oral semaglutide accounted for 50% of semaglutide use in 2024 and was preferred by younger females with less comorbidities.
Practical Outcomes
- Oral semaglutide offers a convenient, injection‑free way to tap into GLP‑1 benefits, especially for younger, healthier individuals focused on weight loss. Expect growing availability and community experience sharing around dosing and protocols for the pill form.
Summary
In Poland, use of GLP‑1 drugs exploded from a few hundred to over 12,000 patients between 2018 and 2024, mainly for obesity. The oral pill form of semaglutide grew fast and made up half of all semaglutide prescriptions in 2024, especially among younger women with fewer health problems, showing it’s a practical, non‑injectable option for weight‑loss‑focused biohackers.
Abstract
<b>Background</b>: Since the introduction of the first GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) in 2005, there has been a steady increase in the number of drugs available in this group, as well as an expansion of their indications and routes of administration. <b>Aim</b>: The aim of the study was to assess the clinical characteristics of patients treated with GLP-1 RA in Poland in 2018-2024, with particular emphasis on the disease entities constituting indications for treatment (like obesity and diabetes), and to analyse the frequency of use of individual drugs during the study period. <b>Methods</b>: A cohort study was conducted based on anonymised medical data from 300 outpatient clinics the largest private healthcare facilities in Poland (Luxmed), on consecutive patients who had at least one prescription for GLP-1 RA. The analysis covered the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2024. <b>Results</b>: The number of patients using GLP-1 RA increased from 212 in 2018 to 12,836 in 2024. Obesity was diagnosed in 78% of all patients, most often in the groups using liraglutide and tirzepatide. The highest percentage of patients with type 2 diabetes was observed in the dulaglutide group (67%), while the lowest was in the tirzepatide group (15%). From 2022, the share of oral semaglutide steadily increased, reaching 50% of all semaglutide applications in 2024 in Poland. <b>Conclusions</b>: In the analysed group, GLP-1 RAs were most commonly used to treat obesity. The oral form of semaglutide was more frequently used in younger females with less aggravating medical history.
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
10.3390/healthcare13222874
20