Who's using GLP-1s?

Using data from IRIS by Real Chemistry, a proprietary database of medical, hospital and pharmacy claims covering more than 300 million U.S. patients—researchers examined the rising demand for GLP-1 drugs, along with the demographic and geographic disparities in access. Rita Glaze-Rowe, president of Transformative Healthcare Markets at Real Chemistry authored a report, which included the following key takeaways: 

• More than just weight management: GLP-1s could show efficacy and safety in as many as 20 therapeutic areas in the next 10 years. This could lead to FDA approvals for treatment in obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease, PCOS and more.
• GLP-1 use increases with income: Obesity patients earning over $250,000 annually are 72% more likely to take a GLP-1 than those earning $50,000 or less.
• Sex also plays a role: Female patients make up nearly 65% of GLP-1 users nationwide, and around 5.2% of women with obesity are prescribed a GLP-1 medication (compared to 4.2% of men).
• GLP-1 use varies by state: GLP-1 use among all patients (not just obesity patients) ranges from a high of 1.9% in Kentucky to a low of 0.4% in Hawaii. Generally, GLP-1 usage is concentrated in the Southeast and parts of the Midwest, where self-reported obesity rates also tend to be higher. Other Southeastern states with high rates of GLP-1 use include Alabama (1.7%), West Virginia (1.7%), and Georgia (1.6%).
• Western states less likely to use GLP-1 medications: Eight of the 10 states with the lowest share of patients on GLP-1s are located in the Western U.S., where obesity prevalence tends to be lower. These include Hawaii (0.4%), Arizona (0.5%), Colorado (0.6%), Nevada (0.6%), New Mexico (0.6%), Oregon (0.6%), Washington (0.7%) and Utah (0.7%).

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Despite the surge in demand for GLP-1 medications, significant disparities exist when it comes to who is using them. Nationally, just 1.0% of all patients and 4.8% of patients with an obesity diagnosis have taken a GLP-1 in the past 12 months, but these rates vary widely by demographic group.

• Age is a key factor. Despite Wegovy receiving FDA approval for children ages 12 and up, only 0.2% of Americans under 18 with obesity are prescribed a GLP-1. Older adults, especially those 65 and over, also face barriers, as Medicare does not currently cover GLP-1 medications for obesity. This lack of coverage significantly limits access for seniors with obesity, contributing to the relatively low rate of usage (3.6%) among this group. In contrast, adults aged 45 to 54 make up just 16.1% of the obesity population, but comprise 24.3% of GLP-1 users.

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You can read the full study here.