GLP1-RAs: long-term use versus discontinuation events of an emerging therapy for obesity and cardiovascular diseases

Obesity is a highly prevalent chronic disease strongly associated with cardiometabolic complications, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. The growing understanding of these interrelationships has fundamentally changed clinical approaches to their management. In this context, a new class of agents, the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), has gained increasing importance in patient care, supported by relevant scientific evidence that made them a first-line therapeutic option in various clinical settings. Nevertheless, in clinical practice, there is still concern about their long-term use and the potential risk of adverse effects. As a consequence, GLP1-RAs are often prescribed only for limited periods and discontinued once weight reduction has been achieved. The aim of this review is to examine the clinical effects and main indications of GLP-1 RAs and to compare the risk of long-term adverse outcomes associated with their use versus the risks related to their discontinuation.