July 29, 2024

expert reaction to study looking at semaglutide and tobacco use and smoking cessation in people with type 2 diabetes

A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine looks at semaglutide and tobacco use in people with type 2 diabetes. 

Rachel Richardson, Methods Support Unit Manager, Evidence Production and Methods Directorate, Cochrane, said:

“Smoking is still a global health problem, and it is therefore interesting to read the findings of this study which examined potential correlations between the prescription of semaglutide and people visiting their doctors for reasons related to tobacco use.  The nature of the study design means that its findings would need to be examined in large randomised controlled trials before we could conclude that semaglutide might have an impact on smoking cessation.  The authors acknowledge a key limitation of their work: a reduction in medical encounters related to tobacco may indicate that people are reducing their use of tobacco, but could also mean that they are less willing to seek help to quit smoking.”

‘Association of Semaglutide With Tobacco Use Disorder in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes’ by William Wang first author et al. was published in Annals of Internal Medicine at 22:00 UK time on Monday 29 July 2024.

DOI: 10.7326/M23-2718

Declared interests

Rachel Richardson: “I have no interests to declare.”