GLP-1 receptor agonists may do more than manage weight and blood sugar — a new JAMA Dermatology study found they significantly cut the risk of death and major heart events in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Remarkably, these benefits held even in patients without diabetes, suggesting the drugs' anti-inflammatory effects may be driving the gains. Experts say HS care needs a broader, multidisciplinary approach.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are making waves beyond diabetes and obesity care. A large study published in JAMA Dermatology found that patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) — a chronic, painful inflammatory skin condition — who used GLP-1s had dramatically lower rates of death and major cardiovascular events compared to those who didn't, with benefits lasting up to two years.
What's especially striking: the findings held even among HS patients without diabetes, suggesting the drugs' impact goes beyond glycemic control. Researchers believe GLP-1s may work through dual anti-inflammatory pathways — directly suppressing immune signaling and indirectly reducing inflammation by lowering body fat.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: HS carries a heavy systemic burden — patients frequently face obesity, metabolic syndrome, and elevated cardiovascular risk. These findings make a compelling case for dermatologists to collaborate with endocrinologists and primary care providers, and to consider GLP-1s as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment plan for select HS patients.
