Real-world adherence, persistence, and in-class switching during use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis involving 594,138 patients with type 2 diabetes

Adherence and persistence to novel glucose-lowering medications in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing routine care

AIMS

To assess adherence and persistence to sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) in routine care.

METHODS

Using retrospective healthcare data from the Stockholm region, Sweden, we evaluated new-users of these agents during 2015-2020. We investigated adherence (≥80 % of days covered by an active supply), persistence (no treatment gap ≥ 60 days), and predictors for non-adherence and non-persistence.

RESULTS

We identified 24,470 new-users of SGLT2i (10,743), GLP1-RA (10,315), and/or DPP4i (9,488). Over 2.8 years median follow-up, the proportion demonstrating adherence was higher for SGLT2i (57 %) than DPP4i (53 %, comparison p < 0.001), and for GLP1-RA than DPP4i (54 % vs 53 %, p < 0.001). Similarly, persistence was higher for both SGLT2i and GLP-RA than DPP4i (respectively, 50 % vs 44 %, p < 0.001; 49 % vs 44 %, p < 0.001). Overall adherence was better among users who were older, had a history of high blood pressure, used more non-diabetic medications, had lower Hba1c, had better kidney function, and had completed secondary schooling or university. Women had worse adherence to SGLT2i and GLP1-RA than DPP4i.

CONCLUSIONS

We report adherence and persistence to SGLT2i, GLP1-RA and DPP4i in routine care, and identify prognostic factors that could inform implementation interventions to improve uptake of these important therapies.

Non-adherence to non-insulin glucose-lowering drugs: Prevalence, predictors and impact on glycemic control and insulin initiation. A longitudinal cohort study in a large primary care database in Spain

BACKGROUND

A better understanding of patient non-adherence to type 2 diabetes medication is needed to design effective interventions to address this issue.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To estimate the prevalence of non-adherence to diabetes medication; (2) to examine its impact on glycemic control and insulin initiation; (3) to develop and validate a prediction model of non-adherence.

METHODS

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study based on data from electronic health records. We included adult patients registered within the Health Service of the Balearic Islands (Spain) starting a new prescription of a non-insulin glucose-lowering drug between January 2016 and December 2018. We calculated non-adherence at 12 months follow-up, defined as medication possession ratio (MPR) ≤ 80%. We fitted multivariable regression models to examine the association between non-adherence and glycemic control and insulin initiation and identified predictors of non-adherence.

RESULTS

Of 18,119 patients identified, after 12 months follow-up, 5,740 (31.68%) were non-adherent. Compared with non-adherent, adherent patients presented lower HbA1c levels (mean difference = -0.32%; 95%CI = -0.38%; -0.27%) and were less likely to initiate insulin (aOR = 0.77; 95%CI = 0.63; 0.94). A predictive model explained 22.3% of the variation and presented a satisfactory performance (AUC = 0.721; Brier score = 0.177). The most important predictors of non-adherence were: non-Spanish nationality, currently working, low adherence to previous drugs, taking biguanides, smoker and absence of hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Around one-third of the patients do not adhere to their non-insulin glucose-lowering drugs. More research is needed to optimise the performance of the predicting model before considering its implementation in routine clinical practice.

Post-initiation predictors of discontinuation of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors: A comparative cohort study from the United Kingdom

AIMS

To assess post-initiation predictors of discontinuation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors compared to dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in the United Kingdom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a comparative population-based retrospective cohort study using primary care data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) with linked data to hospital and death records. We included new metformin users who initiated either SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP-4 inhibitors between January 2013 and October 2019. The main outcome was treatment discontinuation, defined as the first 90-day gap after the estimated treatment end date. We used a series of extended Cox models to assess which time-dependent predictors were associated with treatment discontinuation. To test if the hazard ratio of discontinuation for each predictor was statistically different between SGLT2 and DPP-4 inhibitors, an exposure-predictor interaction term was added to each model.

RESULTS

There were 2550 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors and 8195 new users of DPP-4 inhibitors. Approximately 69% of SGLT2 inhibitor and 74% of DPP-4 inhibitor users had discontinued treatment by the end of follow-up. Occurrence of fractures after treatment initiation was a significant predictor of discontinuation of SGLT2 inhibitors (hazard ratio [HR] 4.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.12-8.06) but not DPP-4 inhibitors (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.79-1.11). The rate of treatment discontinuation was significantly higher for those with low estimated glomerular filtration rate and minimal contact with the healthcare system. Efficacy endpoints, such as heart failure and glycated haemoglobin level, were not associated with treatment discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reflect some discrepancy between the available evidence and prescribing behaviour for SGLT2 inhibitors.

Therapeutic Effects of Switching to Anagliptin from Other DPP-4 Inhibitors in T2DM Patients with Inadequate Glycemic Control: A Non-interventional, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Multicenter Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

The effects of switching DPP-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are being widely studied. However, information of which factors affect the therapeutic response is limited. We evaluated the difference in HbA1c lowering effect by comorbidity and other variables after switching to anagliptin in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled by other DPP-4 inhibitors.

METHODS

In a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, prospective observational study, patients with T2DM, HbA1c ≥ 7.0% who have taken DPP-4 inhibitors other than anagliptin, either alone or in combination (DPP-4 inhibitors + metformin/sulfonylurea (SU)/thiazolidinedione (TZD)/insulin), for at least 8 weeks were enrolled. After the switch to anagliptin, HbA1c and available clinical characteristics were determined.

RESULTS

The change in HbA1c levels from baseline to week 12 and 24 was - 0.40% and - 0.42% in all patients. However, comparing the subgroups without and with comorbidities, the change in HbA1c levels at weeks 12 and 24 was - 0.68% and - 0.89% vs. - 0.27% and 0.22%, respectively. In addition, the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c < 7% from baseline to week 12 and 24 was increased to 70% and 70% vs. 20% and 24%, respectively. Duration of T2DM and different subtype classes of DPP-4 inhibitor did not significantly contribute to the change in HbA1c.

CONCLUSION

In patients with T2DM poorly controlled by other DPP-4 inhibitors, HbA1c levels were significantly decreased after switching to anagliptin. Given that the change in HbA1c was greater in patients without comorbidities than in patients with comorbidities, switching to anagliptin before adding other oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) may be an option in patients without comorbidities.

2022 update to the position statement by Primary Care Diabetes Europe: a disease state approach to the pharmacological management of type 2 diabetes in primary care

Type 2 diabetes and its associated comorbidities are growing more prevalent, and the complexity of optimising glycaemic control is increasing, especially on the frontlines of patient care. In many countries, most patients with type 2 diabetes are managed in a primary care setting. However, primary healthcare professionals face the challenge of the growing plethora of available treatment options for managing hyperglycaemia, leading to difficultly in making treatment decisions and contributing to treatment and therapeutic inertia. This position statement offers a simple and patient-centred clinical decision-making model with practical treatment recommendations that can be widely implemented by primary care clinicians worldwide through shared-decision conversations with their patients. It highlights the importance of managing cardiovascular disease and elevated cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes and aims to provide innovative risk stratification and treatment strategies that connect patients with the most effective care.

Adherence and persistence rates of major antidiabetic medications: a review

The objective of this paper was to review the adherence and persistence rates of major antidiabetic medication classes (i.e., metformin, sulfonylureas, sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and thiazolidinediones) by summarizing the major findings of the studies published since 2017. In addition, we reported the potential causes for low adherence and persistence of antidiabetic medications. Based on the literature, the highest rate of adherence and persistence was consistently observed in metformin users. Second to metformin were sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Injectable therapies such as insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists trailed low on the adherence and persistence rates. To the best of our knowledge, no studies published since the year 2017 analyzed the adherence and persistence of thiazolidinediones independently. The most frequently cited cause for low adherence and persistence was the severity of adverse events. Baseline characteristics (e.g., baseline HbA1c level), demographic information (e.g., age, gender, or ethnicity), and comorbidity profiles also had significant impacts on adherence and persistence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Drug utilisation pattern over 3 years in the real-world treatment of type II diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Non-adherence to therapy is very common in patients with type II diabetes, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality. The development of new oral therapies following metformin has increased the possibilities of treatment but little has been done in terms of improving medication adherence. The goal of the following study is to evaluate adherence and persistence over a period of 3 years in real-world diabetic patients and describe the comorbidities found in the group of patients studied.

MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY

A non-interventional pharmacological observational study was conducted by examining all therapies from 2011 to 2019 at a local health centre in Pescara (ASL). The medication adherence and persistence over a 3-year period were calculated using the pharmacy-refill method. The identification of the comorbidities was carried out in accordance with the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification system at the fourth level.

RESULTS

A total of 19 600 patients undergoing treatment for type II diabetes from January 2011 to December 2019 were analysed. The absolute adherence value at 3 years was 0.68 ± 0.23. The 3-year persistence curves showed a statistically significant difference (P < .0001). The ATCs with highest figures in the entire study group were: A02BC, B01AC and C10AA with 14 220, 13 934 and 10 858 patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to therapy was suboptimal, while persistence curves showed a statistically significant difference, with patients treated with metformin showing better results. Comorbidities analysed showed a greater relevance of heart disease.