Are medications like Ozempic safe and effective for people with inflammatory arthritis and type 2 diabetes?

Scientific Study Title: Emulating randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness and safety of semaglutide in inflammatory arthritis and type 2 diabetes

Study Start Date: 2026

Study End Date: 2028

Why Do This Research?

Nearly one-third of Canadian adults have obesity. In people with inflammatory arthritis, extra body fat increases inflammation and can worsen symptoms, making arthritis harder to manage. Semaglutide (commonly known as Ozempic) is a medication that helps reduce weight and inflammation, but its effects in people with inflammatory arthritis are not currently well understood. This research will tell us whether semaglutide can safely improve arthritis disease control in people who also have diabetes.

What Will be Done?

Administrative health data from British Columbia on people living with inflammatory arthritis and diabetes will be used.

Step 1: Compare people who consistently took semaglutide for more than 6 months to those who stopped taking the medication within 6 months of starting. Weight loss usually slows or stops after 6 months.

Step 2: Compare the effects of semaglutide to those of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, another common type of diabetes drug that causes less weight loss. We will also look at how each compares to not taking either drug.

In both steps, we will look at how often people in each group:

  • Increased their arthritis medications (a sign their disease was not properly controlled);
  • had serious adverse events (emergency room visits, hospitalizations, or deaths from pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, depression, suicide, and infection).

Who is Involved?

  • Rheumatology clinician scientists
  • PhD candidate (rheumatologist certified in obesity medicine)
  • Biostatisticians
  • Three patient partners (including two from Arthritis Research Canada’s Patient Advisory Board)
  • Family physician
  • Endocrinologist
  • Knowledge broker

How are Equity, Diversity and Inclusion addressed or taken into consideration?

By using regularly collected anonymous health data from British Columbia, this study includes people with inflammatory arthritis and diabetes from all across the province. Adults of all ages, sexes, ethnicities, and incomes are included. We will take sex and neighbourhood income into account in our analyses. Additionally, three patient partners with different backgrounds will continue to share their perspectives and experiences to help make sure this research is relevant and meaningful for people living with inflammatory arthritis and diabetes or obesity.

How will/have patients contribute(d) to this research?

Two patient partners from Arthritis Research Canada’s Patient Advisory Board helped develop the research questions. All three patient partners will help interpret the research results and share the findings with communities.  

The Research Team:

Principal Investigator

Diane Lacaille, MDCM, MHSc, FRCPC, Scientific Director, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)

Co-Investigators

Derin Karacabeyli, MD, FRCPC, DABOM, PhD Student, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)

J. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCPC, Senior Scientist, Rheumatology, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)

Hui Xie, BSc, MS, PhD, Research Scientist, Biostatistics, Arthritis Research Canada (Simon Fraser University)

Alison Hoens, BScPT, MSc, Knowledge Broker, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)

Olivia Tseng, MD, MSc, PhD, CCFP, FCFP, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice (University of British Columbia)

Who Funded This Research?

Canadian Institutes of Health Research