Psoriatic arthritis is a painful and irreversible form of arthritis that can develop in people with psoriasis and lead to permanent joint damage if left untreated. The risk is higher in those with obesity or type 2 diabetes, suggesting that improving metabolic health may also have a role in reducing the risk of developing arthritis. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are medications commonly used to treat obesity and diabetes, but their association with psoriatic and inflammatory arthritis risk remains unclear.

We analyzed health records from a large national database to compare people with psoriasis who started a GLP-1RA with comparators who did not receive these medications. We then followed both groups over time to determine the risk of developing psoriatic or inflammatory arthritis.

In this study, those who received a GLP-1RA were less likely to develop psoriatic arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis than those who did not receive these medications. This lower risk was observed across patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or were male or female, and with newer GLP-1RAs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide.

These findings suggest that GLP-1RAs may help reduce the risk of developing inflammatory arthritis in people with psoriasis. While part of this benefit may be related to weight loss and improved metabolic health, GLP-1RAs may also have direct anti-inflammatory effects. Additional studies are needed to determine whether these medications can help prevent psoriatic arthritis and better understand how they may influence disease progression.