Hormonal
Preoperative use of GLP-1 receptor agonists is associated with reduced rates of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and hospital readmission in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty, particularly among those with diabetes or morbid obesity.
If you are taking a GLP-1 RA (like Ozempic or Wegovy) before hip or knee replacement surgery, current evidence suggests it may lower your risk of joint infection and hospital readmission, especially if you have diabetes or obesity. However, because these drugs cause rapid weight loss, your surgical team must carefully monitor your nutritional status (e.g., albumin levels) to ensure you are not malnourished, which could increase complication risks. Do not stop the medication without consulting your surgeon, as the net benefit appears positive in many cases, but close monitoring is essential.
The most frequently reported favourable associations were lower periprosthetic joint infection and hospital readmission rates following hip and knee arthroplasty, particularly among individuals with diabetes or morbid obesity
Why this rating
The review synthesizes 15 retrospective studies with low certainty of evidence due to non-randomized designs, heterogeneity, and risk of bias.
Source
Systematic Review Evaluating the Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonist Use on the Postoperative Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Arthroplasty Procedures
Hannah Tabor et al. · Cureus · 2026
DOI 10.7759/cureus.105269
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