Inflamm Bowel Dis

CCC 2026: Use of GLP-1s linked to lower steroid use, fewer hospitalizations in Crohn’s disease

January 29, 2026

Presented as a poster at the Crohn’s & Colitis Congress 2026, this multi‑network real‑world cohort study evaluated adjunctive GLP‑1 RAs in 546 adults with Crohn’s disease (CD) and overweight/obesity, matched 1:1 to non‑users. GLP‑1 therapy was associated with significantly reduced steroid dependence (52.9% vs. 62.8%; P=0.0009) and fewer hospitalizations (2.3% vs. 3.7%; P=0.02) over 12 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed lower hospitalization risk (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.64–0.87; P=0.0002) and improved persistence on advanced IBD therapies , with no increased risk of major abdominal surgery.

Clinical takeaway: GLP‑1 RAs show promise as a safe, beneficial adjunct for CD management in patients with obesity, warranting further prospective study.

Source:

Ganju N et al. (2026, January 22). Inflamm Bowel Dis. ADJUNCTIVE GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS IN CROHN’S DISEASE: REDUCED STEROID DEPENDENCE AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN A REAL-WORLD MULTI-NETWORK COHORT. https://academic.oup.com/ibdjournal/article/32/Supplement_1/izag006.014/8436097