Tirzepatide significantly cuts VTE risk by 10% and PE by 12% versus GLP-1 RAs in obese patients.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), poses a significant health burden and mortality risk for individuals with obesity. While existing GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have shown promise in weight management and potentially reducing VTE risk, specific evidence for the dual GLP-1R/GIPR agonist tirzepatide in this context has been limited. This study addresses the gap by comparing tirzepatide's effectiveness against GLP-1 RAs in mitigating VTE risk in this vulnerable population.

Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX global federated health network, analyzing 701,374 adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ICD-10-CM codes). Patients initiating tirzepatide or other GLP-1 RAs between January 2022 and August 2025 were identified. An active-comparator, new-user design with 1:1 propensity score matching was applied to balance baseline demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory parameters. The primary endpoint was 1-year incidence of VTE, with secondary outcomes including PE, DVT, and all-cause mortality. Negative control outcomes and E-values were used to assess residual confounding.