Secular trends in antihyperglycaemic medication prescriptions in older adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease: 2004-2013

Pharmacotherapy for Coronary Artery Disease and Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Aging Population

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide a comprehensive summary of relevant studies and evidence concerning the utilization of different pharmacotherapeutic and revascularization strategies in managing coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome specifically in the older adult population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Approximately 30% to 40% of hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome are older adults, among whom the majority of cardiovascular-related deaths occur. When compared to younger patients, these individuals generally experience inferior clinical outcomes. Most clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of various therapeutics have primarily enrolled patients under the age of 75, in addition to excluding those with geriatric complexities. In this review, we emphasize the need for a personalized and comprehensive approach to pharmacotherapy for coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndrome in older adults, considering concomitant geriatric syndromes and age-related factors to optimize treatment outcomes while minimizing potential risks and complications. In the realm of clinical practice, cardiovascular and geriatric risks are closely intertwined, with both being significant factors in determining treatments aimed at reducing negative outcomes and attaining health conditions most valued by older adults.

Relationship between metformin use and lactic acidosis in advanced chronic kidney disease: The REMIND-TMU study

BACKGROUND

Evidence of metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been limited due to high mortality rate but rare incidence rate. The mechanism of increased MALA in advanced CKD is mainly based on the hypothesis of decreased drug elimination, which might also be confounded by increased comorbidities as CKD progresses. The goal of the study is to analyze the incidence and associated factors of lactic acidosis between metformin user and non-user with advanced CKD.

METHODS

This study used a three million population-based, propensity score-matched cohort from 2008 to 2016. The primary outcome was laboratory-defined lactic acidosis. Relationships between the probability of lactic acidosis and various estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values in advanced CKD patients were also presented in regression analysis.

RESULTS

Adults with type 2 diabetes whose eGFR was <30 mL/min/1.73 m² were enrolled in this study. After the process of propensity score matching, 7707 patients were divided into metformin and non-metformin groups. In linear regression model, metformin significantly increased the risk of lactic acidosis (p=0.0204) as the eGFR declined in advanced CKD over a mean follow up of over 600 days even after confounder adjustment with age, sex and comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Metformin was associated with a significant increased risk of laboratory-defined lactic acidosis (p=0.0204) even after adjusting confounder such as age, sex and underlying comorbidities. This "REMIND" study reminds us that metformin-associated lactic acidosis is mainly caused by decreased drug renal elimination other than underlying comorbidities in advanced CKD patients.

Trends in basal insulin prescribing in older adults with chronic kidney disease in Ontario, Canada: A population-based analysis from 2010 to 2020

AIM

To examine trends in basal insulin prescribing in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a population-based study of adults aged 66 years or older with treated diabetes from 1 January 2010 to 30 September 2020 in Ontario, Canada. We examined prevalent and incident prescriptions for human NPH, Levemir, glargine-100, Basaglar, glargine-300, and degludec insulin over 43 study intervals. We present trends in those with CKD, and in a subgroup, by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). To provide context for prescribing, we provide demographics, co-morbidities, and the healthcare utilization of included patients.

RESULTS

In CKD, use of basal insulin was about 2-fold higher than in the general treated diabetes cohort. Prescriptions for NPH declined over time, while prescriptions for Levemir and glargine-100 increased until 2018 then decreased. Following drug formulary approval (September 2018), prescriptions for glargine-300 and degludec increased substantially. Incident prescriptions for basal insulin in CKD declined over time; however, in those with an eGFR of less than 30 ml/min/1.73m² , rates remained stable. In recent years, rates of degludec and glargine-300 have rivalled glargine-100.

CONCLUSIONS

In an era of new oral and injectable diabetes medications, the use of basal insulin has declined in older adults with CKD. However, in those with more advanced CKD, basal insulin, particularly newer analogues, remain a mainstay treatment.

Inappropriate use of clinical practices in Canada: a systematic review

Background:

Inappropriate health care leads to negative patient experiences, poor health outcomes and inefficient use of resources. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of inappropriately used clinical practices in Canada.

Methods:

We searched multiple bibliometric databases and grey literature to identify inappropriately used clinical practices in Canada between 2007 and 2021. Two team members independently screened citations, extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Findings were synthesized in 2 categories: diagnostics and therapeutics. We reported ranges of proportions of inappropriate use for all practices. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs), based on the percentage of patients not receiving recommended practices (underuse) or receiving practices not recommended (overuse), were calculated. All statistics are at the study summary level.

Results:

We included 174 studies, representing 228 clinical practices and 28 900 762 patients. The median proportion of inappropriate care, as assessed in the studies, was 30.0% (IQR 12.0%–56.6%). Underuse (median 43.9%, IQR 23.8%–66.3%) was more frequent than overuse (median 13.6%, IQR 3.2%–30.7%). The most frequently investigated diagnostics were glycated hemoglobin (underused, range 18.0%–85.7%, n = 9) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (overused, range 3.0%–35.1%, n = 5). The most frequently investigated therapeutics were statin medications (underused, range 18.5%–71.0%, n = 6) and potentially inappropriate medications (overused, range 13.5%–97.3%, n = 9).

Interpretation:

We have provided a summary of inappropriately used clinical practices in Canadian health care systems. Our findings can be used to support health care professionals and quality agencies to improve patient care and safety in Canada.

Efficacy of metformin monotherapy in US veterans with type 2 diabetes and preexisting chronic kidney disease stage 3

AIM

To evaluate the glycaemic efficacy of metformin in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD3).

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study including 145980 US veterans with T2D and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m² who initiated metformin monotherapy between November 1999 and July 2017. Propensity-score-matched cohorts were generated based on baseline variables associated with CKD3 (eGFR 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m² ) to evaluate the independent association between CKD3 and metformin discontinuation, the addition of a second hypoglycaemic agent, and changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline in those with and without CKD3. Associations were examined using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable regression models, adjusted for baseline and 12-month average metformin dose.

RESULTS

The mean age of the entire cohort was 60.7 years, and 95% of the cohort were men, 21% were African American and 9% had CKD3. In the adjusted analyses, patients with CKD3 had a higher risk of metformin discontinuation or addition of a second hypoglycaemic agent, as compared with patients without CKD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.26, and HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.13-1.40, respectively). Among metformin monotherapy users, there were no differences in the average HbA1c reduction from baseline to 12 or 24 months between patients with and without CKD3.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with CKD3 and T2D were at increased risk of metformin monotherapy failure. However, the HbA1c-lowering efficacy of metformin was similar in patients with and without CKD3, highlighting that metformin is a valuable treatment option for newly treated individuals with T2D and CKD3.

Association between Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Prescription and Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent Hyporesponsiveness in Hemodialysis Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

INTRODUCTION

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) has been hypothesized to improve responsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA). We aimed to describe the trend in DPP-4 inhibitor prescription patterns and assess the association between DPP-4 inhibitor prescription and ESA hyporesponsiveness (eHypo) in Japanese hemodialysis (HD) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Japan Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study phase 4-6 (2009-2017) on patients with DM who underwent HD thrice per week for at least 4 months. The primary exposure of interest was having a DPP-4 inhibitor prescription. The primary analysis outcomes were a binary indicator of eHypo (mean hemoglobin <10 and mean ESA dose >6,000 units/week over 4 months) and the natural log-transformed ESA resistance index (ERI). We used conditional logistic regression to compare within-patient changes in eHypo before and after initial DPP-4 inhibitor prescription. We used linear generalized estimating equation models to compare continuous ERI outcomes while accounting for within-patient repeated measurements with an exchangeable correlation structure.

RESULTS

There was a monotonic increase in DPP-4 inhibitor prescription according to study year up to 20% in 2017. Moreover, 12.8% of patients with a DPP-4 inhibitor prescription were ESA hyporesponsive before the initial DPP-4 inhibitor prescription. After DPP-4 inhibitor prescription, the odds of eHypo and mean log-ERI remained unchanged in the whole cohort of our study. The interaction analysis of DPP-4 inhibitor and sideropenia showed that DPP-4 inhibitors attenuated eHypo in the patients without iron deficiency.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate a recent increase in DPP-4 inhibitor prescription among Japanese HD patients with DM. DPP-4 inhibitors could improve ERI in patients undergoing HD without iron deficiency.

Metformin Use and Risk of All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

To evaluate whether metformin use assuredly alters overall all-cause death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched from inception to Feb. 29, 2020 with no language restriction. All related articles comparing all-cause death of T2DM and CKD patients after metformin use (monotherapy or combination) versus non-metformin treatment were identified. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using random-effects models regardless of the heterogeneity quantified by Cochrane χ2 and I2 statistics.

Results

Totally 13 studies (9 cohort studies [CSs], 3 subanalyses or post-hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials [RCTs], and 1 nested case-control article) involving 303,540 patients were included. Metformin-based treatments relative to any other measure displayed significantly lower risks of all-cause mortality (Pooled RRs 0.71, 95%CI 0.61 to 0.84; I2 = 79.0%) and cardiovascular events (Pooled RRs 0.76, 95%CI 0.60 to 0.97; I2 = 87.0%) in CKD patients at stage G1-3, with substantial heterogeneity. Metformin use was not significantly related with these end points in advanced CKD patients.

Conclusions

Metformin use is connected with significantly less risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with T2DM and mild/moderate CKD. However, RCTs with large sample sizes are warranted in the future to assess whether these key benefits extend to later stages of CKD by dose adjustment.

Diabetic Kidney Disease in Older People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Improving Prevention and Treatment Options

Age-related metabolic and renal changes predispose older people to an increased risk of diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease, respectively. As the prevalence of the ageing population is increasing, because of increased life expectancy, the prevalence of older people with diabetic kidney disease is likely to increase. Diabetic kidney disease is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes and increased costs to healthcare systems. The management includes promotion of a healthy lifestyle and control of cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperglycaemia, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Older people are a heterogeneous group of people from a community-living fit and independent person to a fully dependent individual residing in a care home. Therefore, management in this age group should be based on a patient's functional level adopting tight metabolic control in the fit individual and relaxed targets in the frail person. However, despite the maximum available therapy, a significant number of patients with diabetic kidney disease still progress to renal failure and experience adverse cardiac outcomes. Therefore, future research is required to explore methods of early detection of diabetic kidney disease and to investigate novel therapeutic interventions to further improve the outcomes.

Metformin treatment for patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease: A Korean Diabetes Association and Korean Society of Nephrology consensus statement

The safety of metformin use for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and advanced kidney disease is controversial, and more recent guidelines have suggested that metformin be used cautiously in this group until more definitive evidence concerning its safety is available. The Korean Diabetes Association and the Korean Society of Nephrology have agreed on consensus statements concerning metformin use for patients with T2DM and renal dysfunction, particularly when these patients undergo imaging studies using iodinated contrast media (ICM). Metformin can be used safely when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is ≥ 45 mL/min/1.73 m². If the eGFR is between 30 and 44 mL/min/1.73 m², metformin treatment should not be started. If metformin is already in use, a daily dose of ≤ 1,000 mg is recommended. Metformin is contraindicated when the eGFR is < 30 mL/min/1.73 m². Renal function should be evaluated prior to any ICM-related procedures. During procedures involving intravenous administration of ICM, metformin should be discontinued starting the day of the procedures and up to 48 hours post-procedures if the eGFR is < 60 mL/min/1.73 m².

Metformin Treatment for Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Korean Diabetes Association and Korean Society of Nephrology Consensus Statement

The safety of metformin use for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and advanced kidney disease is controversial, and more recent guidelines have suggested that metformin be used cautiously in this group until more definitive evidence concerning its safety is available. The Korean Diabetes Association and the Korean Society of Nephrology have agreed on consensus statements concerning metformin use for patients with T2DM and renal dysfunction, particularly when these patients undergo imaging studies using iodinated contrast media (ICM). Metformin can be used safely when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m². If the eGFR is between 30 and 44 mL/min/1.73 m², metformin treatment should not be started. If metformin is already in use, a daily dose of ≤1,000 mg is recommended. Metformin is contraindicated when the eGFR is <30 mL/min/1.73 m². Renal function should be evaluated prior to any ICM-related procedures. During procedures involving intravenous administration of ICM, metformin should be discontinued starting the day of the procedures and up to 48 hours post-procedures if the eGFR is <60 mL/min/1.73 m².

The right place for metformin today

Metformin is the most widely used glucose lowering drug worldwide in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, since we have experience with this drug for more than 60 years about the efficacy and safety. Metformin is very effective in HbA1c lowering associated with some weight loss, but does not increase risk for hypoglycemia. At the moment all guidelines in the world recommend to use metformin in monotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes or in combination with other antidiabetic drugs with documented CV (and renal) benefit in cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOT). Although a randomized placebo controlled CVOT with metformin is lacking, many observational studies in patients with coronary heart disease, heart failure and chronic kidney disease have demonstrated consistent beneficial effects. A recent metanalysis of 26 observational studies including 815 839 patients showed that metformin use was associated with a significantly lower rate of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.68-0.81). Whether this very consistent reduction of all-cause mortality is related to the incidence/outcome of several cancers has still to be investigated. In the future early combination therapy of metformin e.g. with SGLT-2 inhibitors should be more often used.

Antidiabetic medication use in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease

AIMS

To quantify patterns of conventional and newer antidiabetic medication use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS

We used data from a large claims and integrated dataset that includes employed and commercially insured patients in the US to select patients who had T2DM and CKD with information on laboratory values and prescriptions for antidiabetic medications from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2015. We stratified the analyses by sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 38,577 patients with T2DM and CKD, we found wide variation in the treatment of T2DM by CKD stage as well as by several sociodemographic factors. Although metformin was the most commonly prescribed medication, only about half of patients in the cohort and fewer than two-thirds of patients with early stage CKD were prescribed metformin. Approximately 10.6% of patients with CKD stage 4 and 2.1% of the patients with CKD stage 5 were prescribed metformin. Sulfonylureas with active metabolites that accumulate with impaired kidney function were prescribed in more than one-third of patients with CKD stages 3b, 4, and 5. Only 3.4% and 12.3% of patients were prescribed GLP-1 and DPP-4 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescriptions for metformin were lower than expected among patients with mild to moderate CKD. Prescriptions for newer antidiabetic medications with known safety and efficacy across the spectrum of CKD remained low. Prescriptions for agents contraindicated in advanced CKD continued to be written in a sizeable fraction of patients.

Prevalence and coprevalence of chronic comorbid conditions in patients with type 2 diabetes in Catalonia: a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence and coprevalence of several chronic conditions in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Mediterranean region.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Two hundred and eighty-six primary care teams of the Catalonian Health Institute (Catalonia, Spain).

PARTICIPANTS

We included patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes by 31 December, 2016, who were registered in the Information System for the Development of Research in primary care (SIDIAP) database. We excluded patients with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus and any other type of diabetes.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

We collected data on diabetes-related comorbidities (ie, chronic complications, associated cardiovascular risk factors and treatment complications). Diagnoses were based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10^th Revision codes recorded in the database or, for some entities, on the cut-off points for a particular test result or a specific treatment indicated for that entity. The presence and stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) were based on the glomerular filtration rate, the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine equation and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio.

RESULTS

A total of 373 185 patients were analysed. 82% of patients exhibited ≥2 comorbidities and 31% exhibited ≥4 comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (72%), hyperlipidaemia (60%), obesity (45%), CKD (33%), chronic renal failure (CRF)(28%) and cardiovascular disease (23%). The most frequently coprevalent pairs of chronic conditions were the combination of hypertension with hyperlipidaemia (45%), obesity (35%), CKD (28%), CRF (25%) or cardiovascular disease (19%), as well as the combination of hyperlipidaemia with obesity (28%), CKD (21%), CRF (18%) or cardiovascular disease (15%); other common pairs of comorbidities were obesity/CKD, obesity/CRF, hypertension/retinopathy, hypertension/albuminuria, hypertension/urinary tract infection, CVD/CRF and CVD/CKD, which were each present in more than 10% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients with type 2 diabetes have a high frequency of coprevalence of metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular disease and CKD and thus require an integrated management approach.

A population-based analysis of antidiabetic medications in four Canadian provinces: Secular trends and prescribing patterns

PURPOSE

To use the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES) to describe drug utilization of antidiabetic medications in four Canadian provinces.

METHODS

With the use of data from CNODES, we constructed cohorts of patients with type 2 diabetes in four Canadian provinces (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan) who received their first-ever prescription for a noninsulin antidiabetic medication during the study period, defined as the earliest date of data availability in each province (range: 1993-1998) to the latest date of the data extraction in each province (range: 2013-2014). Prescriptions rates were calculated for all prescriptions by class and described over time.

RESULTS

Across provinces, we identified 650 830 patients who initiated antidiabetic medications during the study period. In most provinces, the overall prescription rate of antidiabetic medications increased during the last two decades. Metformin particularly increased in popularity, surpassing sulfonylureas in all provinces as the most widely prescribed antidiabetic medication by the early 2000s. Thiazolidinediones grew in popularity from the onset of their availability until 2006 to 2007, at which point they rapidly declined. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors saw substantial growth in several provinces following their addition to provincial formularies in 2008 to 2012, while glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists experienced modest growth. Insulin prescription rates remained constant or steadily increased over the last two decades.

CONCLUSIONS

CNODES can be used for cross-jurisdictional drug utilization studies. In Canada, trends in antidiabetic medication prescriptions followed changing guidelines reflecting up-to-date knowledge of drug effectiveness and safety.

Diabetes in the older patient: heterogeneity requires individualisation of therapeutic strategies

Owing to the worldwide increase in life expectancy, the high incidence of diabetes in older individuals and the improved survival of people with diabetes, about one-third of all individuals with diabetes are now older than 65 years. Evidence is accumulating that type 2 diabetes is associated with cognitive impairment, dementia and frailty. Older people with diabetes have significantly more comorbidities, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and renal impairment, compared with those without diabetes. However, as a consequence of the increased use of multifactorial risk factor intervention, a considerable number of older individuals can now survive for many years without any vascular complications. Given the heterogeneity of older individuals with type 2 diabetes, an individualised approach is warranted, which must take into account the health status, presence or absence of complications, and life expectancy. In doing so, undertreatment of otherwise healthy older individuals and overtreatment of those who are frail may be avoided. Specifically, overtreatment of hyperglycaemia in older patients is potentially harmful; in particular, insulin and sulfonylureas should be avoided or, if necessary, used with caution. Instead, glucose-dependent drugs that do not induce hypoglycaemia are preferable since older patients with diabetes and impaired kidney function are especially vulnerable to this adverse event.

Effects of exenatide once weekly plus dapagliflozin, exenatide once weekly alone, or dapagliflozin alone added to metformin monotherapy in subgroups of patients with type 2 diabetes in the DURATION-8 randomized controlled trial

This analysis assessed whether responses with exenatide once weekly plus dapagliflozin (n = 231), exenatide once weekly alone (n = 230), or dapagliflozin alone (n = 233) differed in key patient subpopulations of the DURATION-8 trial. Potential treatment-by-subgroup interactions for changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and body weight after 28 weeks were evaluated among subgroups determined by baseline HbA1c, age, sex, body mass index, type 2 diabetes duration, race, ethnicity and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Exenatide once weekly plus dapagliflozin reduced HbA1c and body weight across all subgroups: least-squares mean reductions ranged from -8.4 to -26.1 mmol/mol (-0.77% to -2.39%) for HbA1c and from -2.07 to -4.55 kg for body weight. Potential treatment-by-subgroup interactions (P < .10) were found for HbA1c change by age (P = .016) and eGFR (P = .097). Age subgroup analysis findings were not consistent with expected mechanistic effects, with the small number of patients aged ≥65 years (n = 74 vs n = 499 for patients aged <65 years) limiting the interpretability of the interaction term. In the exenatide once weekly plus dapagliflozin and dapagliflozin groups, but not the exenatide once weekly group, HbA1c reductions were greater among patients with eGFR ≥90 vs ≥60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m² (least-squares mean reductions of -23.6 vs -19.0 mmol/mol [-2.16% vs -1.74%], -17.3 vs -12.0 mmol/mol [-1.58% vs -1.10%], and -17.7 vs -16.9 mmol/mol [-1.62% vs -1.55%] for the respective treatments); this was consistent with the mechanism of action of dapagliflozin. A potential treatment-by-subgroup interaction was observed for change in body weight by sex (P = .099), with greater weight loss for women vs men across all treatments (range -2.56 to -3.98 kg vs -0.56 to -2.99 kg). In conclusion, treatment with exenatide once weekly plus dapagliflozin reduced HbA1c and body weight across all patient subgroups and was more effective than exenatide once weekly or dapagliflozin alone in all adequately sized subgroups.

Impact of sex and glucose-lowering treatments on hypoglycaemic symptoms in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The French Chronic Kidney Disease - Renal Epidemiology and Information Network (CKD-REIN) Study

AIM

To describe current practices of glucose-lowering treatments in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), the associated glucose control and hypoglycaemic symptoms, with an emphasis on sex differences.

METHODS

Among the 3033 patients with CKD stages 3-5 recruited into the French CKD-REIN study, 645 men and 288 women had type 2 diabetes and were treated by glucose-lowering drugs.

RESULTS

Overall, 31% were treated only with insulin, 28% with combinations of insulin and another drug, 42% with non-insulin glucose-lowering drugs. In CKD stage 3, 40% of patients used metformin, 12% at stages 4&5, similar for men and women; in CKD stage 3, 53% used insulin, similar for men and women, but at stages 4&5, 59% of men and 77% of women used insulin. Patients were reasonably well controlled, with a median HbA1c of 7.1% (54mmol/mol) in men, 7.4% (57mmol/mol) in women (P=0.0003). Hypoglycaemic symptoms were reported by 40% of men and 59% of women; they were not associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate, nor with albuminuria or with HbA1c in multivariable analyses, but they were more frequent in people treated with insulin, particularly with fast-acting and pre-mixed insulins.

CONCLUSION

Glucose-lowering treatment, HbA1c and hypoglycaemic symptoms were sex dependent. Metformin use was similar in men and women, but unexpectedly low in CKD stage 3; its use could be encouraged rather than resorting to insulin. Hypoglycaemic symptoms were frequent and need to be more closely monitored, with appropriate patient-education, especially in women.

Preferential prescribing and utilization trends of diabetes medications among patients with renal impairment: Emerging role of linagliptin and other dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors

OBJECTIVES

Although many newer diabetes medications have become available in the last decade, most have not been widely studied in populations with chronic kidney disease under routine care. Linagliptin, a recently marketed dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, is the only agent in the U.S. that does not require dose adjustment in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) and renal impairment. We sought to describe baseline kidney function and other key characteristics among patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) initiating linagliptin and other diabetes medications, and to explore prescribing patterns among T2DM patients with moderate to severe renal impairment before and after the launch of linagliptin.

DESIGN

Using a population-based cohort study design nested in a large U.S. commercial healthcare dataset linked to laboratory values, we described characteristics of T2DM patients initiating linagliptin and other diabetes medications between May 2011 (launch of linagliptin) and September 2015. We also explored prescribing trends among T2DM patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (ICD-9 diagnosis code 585.3x-6x) who initiated linagliptin and other diabetes medications between January 2006 to September 2015 (before and after the launch of linagliptin).

PATIENTS

We identified 1,174,476 T2DM patients initiating a diabetes medication (28,900 linagliptin initiators) between 05/2011-09/2015. We also identified 100,847 T2DM patients with moderate to severe renal impairment initiating a diabetes agent between 01/2006-09/2015.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Among patients initiating newer diabetes medications between 05/2011-09/2015, those initiating linagliptin had the highest prevalence of moderate to severe renal impairment, suggesting preferential prescribing in routine care. DPP-4 inhibitors overall were among the most frequently chosen agents among T2DM patients with moderate to severe renal impairment between 01/2006-09/2015. Further investigation of the safety and effectiveness of DPP-4 inhibitors in routine care of T2DM patients with renal impairment is needed to either corroborate or discourage current prescribing patterns.

Glycaemic control and antidiabetic treatment trends in primary care centres in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during 2007-2013 in Catalonia: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

To assess trends in prescribing practices of antidiabetic agents and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis using yearly clinical data and antidiabetic treatments prescribed obtained from an electronic population database.

SETTING

Primary healthcare centres, including the entire population attended by the Institut Català de la Salut in Catalonia, Spain, from 2007 to 2013.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients aged 31-90 years with a diagnosis of T2DM.

RESULTS

The number of registered patients with T2DM in the database was 257 072 in 2007, increasing up to 343 969 in 2013. The proportion of patients not pharmacologically treated decreased by 9.7% (95% CI -9.48% to -9.92%), while there was an increase in the percentage of patients on monotherapy (4.4% increase; 95% CI 4.16% to 4.64%), combination therapy (2.8% increase; 95% CI 2.58% to 3.02%), and insulin alone or in combination (increasing 2.5%; 95% CI 2.2% to 2.8%). The use of metformin and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors increased gradually, while sulfonylureas, glitazones and α-glucosidase inhibitors decreased. The use of glinides remained stable, and the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists was still marginal. Regarding glycaemic control, there were no relevant differences across years: mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) value was around 7.2%; the percentage of patients reaching an HbA1c≤7% target ranged between 52.2% and 55.6%; and those attaining their individualised target from 72.8% to 75.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the proportion of patients under pharmacological treatment increased substantially over time and there was an increase in the use of combination therapies, there have not been relevant changes in glycaemic control during the 2007-2013 period in Catalonia.