INTRODUCTION: In recent times, TikTok 'weight loss influencers' have been promoting the use of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, with particular emphasis on semaglutide. The popularity of this class of drugs has been amplified by the statements of Elon Musk, who publicly declared in October 2022 that he had lost weight thanks to Wegovy, a semaglutide-based medication launched in the US. In Italy, GLP-1 receptor agonists are mainly indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but in certain cases they can be prescribed off-label for obesity and overweight. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of Elon Musk's statements on the use of semaglutide within Regional Health Service of the Lazio Region.
METHODS: Dispensations of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs (ATC: A10BJ) within Regional Health Service in the Lazio Region between January 2022 and March 2023 were analysed, identifying those related to semaglutide (ATC: A10BJ06). Monthly time series data on new users (with a 1-year washout period) of semaglutide and other GLP-1 drugs were compared to identify any changes after October 2022. In addition, the proportion of patients for whom it was possible to verify the indication of diabetes through health administrative data was examined.
RESULTS: Analysis of the monthly trends for the entire class of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs showed no difference in the monthly average of incident users between the pre and post Elon Musk statements. However, an increase in incident users was observed for semaglutide (monthly average: from 872 pre to 1,380 post) at the expense of the use of other drugs in the same class (monthly average: from 711 pre to 208 post). The proportion of semaglutide users for whom diabetes could not be confirmed remained stable over time at approximately 9.5%.
CONCLUSIONS: Elon Musk's statements seem to have had an impact on the use of semaglutide among patients in the Lazio region. Further analyses are necessary to carefully assess the presence of possible other factors influencing the preference for semaglutide over other GLP-1 receptor agonists.