GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Fewer Asthma Flare-Ups in Patients With Overweight or Obesity

Add asthma to the list of health conditions that GLP-1 drugs may help treat.

Research presented at a recent meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) found that starting GLP-1 drugs in patients with overweight or obesity and asthma was linked to a significant reduction in asthma exacerbations.¹ A study published last year also found these drugs reduced flare-ups in people with both asthma and diabetes.²

What the Study Found

Researchers analyzed data from TriNetX, a health data collaborative, comparing asthma flare-up rates over three years between patients who used GLP-1 drugs and those who did not.

The dataset included 710 patients with overweight (BMI 25-30), 1,515 patients with obesity (BMI 30 or higher), and 1,249 patients with severe obesity (BMI 40 or higher). GLP-1 drug use was associated with a 14.6% lower risk of asthma exacerbations among patients with overweight, a 12.2% reduction among patients with obesity, and a 13.3% reduction among patients with severe obesity.

The research was prompted by emerging observational data suggesting GLP-1 drugs may reduce asthma exacerbations, mainly in patients with diabetes, said Ruchi Patel, MD, lead researcher of the study and a resident physician at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

“We wanted to build on that work by examining whether similar benefits exist in non-diabetic patients,” Patel said.

The Link Between Excess Weight and Asthma

Patel explained that obesity can worsen asthma through both mechanical and inflammatory pathways. “Excess weight reduces lung volumes, while adipose tissue drives systemic inflammation, which can increase airway reactivity and exacerbations,” she said.

Obesity can also raise the risk of developing asthma and worsen symptoms and flare-up frequency in people who already have the condition. GLP-1 drugs may help by reducing inflammation and directly affecting the airways, potentially independent of weight loss, Patel added.

It is well known that significant weight loss can help "improve almost any chronic health condition, particularly asthma," said David Stukus, MD, president-elect of AAAAI and a clinical professor in the division of allergy and immunology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, who was not involved with the new study.

If necessary, weight loss should be part of the treatment conversation, but “doctors also know how challenging this is for everyone,” Stukus said. “GLP-1 drugs offer a tremendous opportunity to help people lose weight.”

However, Stukus said it is still unclear whether the drugs themselves, the resulting weight loss, or a combination of both drives the improvement in asthma. The study was "a great initial high-level analysis that should promote ongoing research in this area," he added.

Will Insurance Cover GLP-1 Drugs for Asthma Patients?

Patel said there is currently no strong evidence that one GLP-1 drug is more effective than another for asthma outcomes, as most research evaluates the drug class as a whole. She recommends that patients with overweight or obesity and asthma discuss these medications with their healthcare provider.

Her research team plans to continue studying GLP-1 drugs, asthma, and obesity, with a focus on clinical trials to determine whether these therapies directly improve asthma outcomes and to better understand how they work.

Asthma is not currently an approved indication for GLP-1 drugs, which can affect insurance coverage.

“While insurers typically follow FDA-approved indications, coverage isn't always guaranteed even then,” said Karla Robinson, MD, a medical editor at GoodRx. “However, as more evidence becomes available and medical guidelines evolve to support GLP-1s for asthma, insurers may be more likely to cover it in the future for the indication.”