Study wrapper · #1032
Respiratory Adverse Events of Weight-Loss Drugs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Zeng L, Zinmon-Htet C, Hundie T, et al. Annals of the American Thoracic Society. 2026.
DOI: 10.1093/annalsats/aaoag177PubMed: 42479131
Editor's note
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 123 studies assessing respiratory adverse events of weight-loss medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide. The pooled randomized-trial data, judged at low risk of bias, showed no signal of increased respiratory harm versus placebo, though evidence specific to people with asthma was sparse. This is a reassuring, well-conducted synthesis on a focused safety question.
Plain-language abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 123 studies found that semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide were not associated with increased respiratory adverse events compared with placebo. Common events like nasopharyngitis occurred but were not linked to the drugs specifically.
Related coverage
Weak / none
A qualitative study exploring experiences about using semaglutide for weight loss in a rural setting in Denmark - 'she is probably on the meds'.
Scandinavian journal of primary health caren=——2026
Mixed
GLP-1 receptor agonists in stroke prevention: a narrative review on emerging therapeutic frontiers.
Annals of medicinen=——2026
Weak / none
Cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide versus semaglutide for patients with obesity or overweight in the US: evidence from the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head phase-3 trial.
Journal of medical economicsn=——2026