Adherence to NICE guidance on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an evaluation using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink

Application of big data in ophthalmology

The advents of information technologies have led to the creation of ever-larger datasets. Also known as big data, these large datasets are characterized by its volume, variety, velocity, veracity, and value. More importantly, big data has the potential to expand traditional research capabilities, inform clinical practice based on real-world data, and improve the health system and service delivery. This review first identified the different sources of big data in ophthalmology, including electronic medical records, data registries, research consortia, administrative databases, and biobanks. Then, we provided an in-depth look at how big data analytics have been applied in ophthalmology for disease surveillance, and evaluation on disease associations, detection, management, and prognostication. Finally, we discussed the challenges involved in big data analytics, such as data suitability and quality, data security, and analytical methodologies.

Adherence to the therapeutic guidelines recommendations among the people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, frailty, or recent diagnosis, attended in primary health care centers in Spain: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

Clinical practice guidelines are helpful for clinicians, and their proper implementation could improve the quality of care and management of participants with diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of adherence to the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) recommendations among obese, frail, or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) participants in primary care centers in Spain.

Methods

We perform a cross-sectional study on a national level in two phases. In the first phase, study participants were recruited, and their clinical data were collected. In the second phase, data related to the participating physicians were collected.

Results

In total, 882 participants from 240 physicians were analyzed. According to the study questionnaire, most participants from all three clinical groups had adequate adherence to the CPG. This percentage was highest among the recently diagnosed T2DM (91.6%) and lowest percent of frail T2DM persons (74.7%). The inadequate adherence to the guidelines was observed mainly among the obese and frail participants with T2DM from medical doctors with low CPG knowledge (3.4% and 3.5%, respectively). Regarding the patient's characteristics and degree of adherence to the guidelines, the participants with inadequate adherence were generally older, with higher BMI, poorer HbA1c control, and fewer visits with primary care physicians. Most (57%) primary care physicians had moderate CPG knowledge. In our multivariable logistic model, we did not observe statistically significant odds ratios for different characteristics related to the physicians/consultation and low CPG knowledge.

Discussion

The results of our cross-sectional study observe adequate adherence to the clinical guidelines by the primary care physicians for the majority of the participants with obesity, frailty, or newly diagnosed with T2DM.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes:real-world evidence from a Mediterranean area

Aims: To assess clinical characteristics and factors associated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients initiating glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). Methods: Retrospective cohort study in patients with T2DM who initiated GLP-1RAs between 2007 and 2014 in primary health care centers in Catalonia (Spain). We evaluated changes in HbA1c and body weight at 6-12 months, and factors independently associated with achieving ≥1% HbA1c target reduction. Results: Overall, 4242 patients (47.9% male; mean BMI 37.5 kg/m²) initiated a GLP-1RA. At 6-12 months, the mean HbA1c level decreased from the baseline 8.8% to 7.7% (-1.0%; SD = 1.6). A 1% reduction in HbA1c was observed in 47.2% of patients. Patients lost a mean of 3.6 kg (SD = 6.2). Sixty percent of patients reduced both HbA1c and body weight, and 17% achieved only one of these targets. Independent determinants of a 1% HbA1c reduction were baseline HbA1c, age, diabetes duration and being on insulin treatment. Reduction in weight or HbA1c and the proportion of patients achieving a HbA1c reduction of ≥1% was significantly larger among subjects prescribed liraglutide than exenatide and lixisenatide. Conclusions: In this real-world, retrospective study, the magnitude of HbA1c and body weight reductions after addition of a GLP-1RA were similar to those observed in randomized controlled trials. Approximately 60% of patients attained reductions in both HbA1c and body weight, and there were significant differences among different drugs from this therapeutic group.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Prescription According to Reimbursement Constraints and Guideline Recommendations in Catalonia

To assess the clinical characteristics, the prescription pattern of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) users, and HbA1c and weight change, we retrospectively assessed patients with type 2 diabetes by initiating GLP-1RA as an add-on to the standard of care in Catalonia. The mean change from the baseline in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and weight at 6 and 12 months of therapy was calculated, and we assessed the predictors of the HbA1c reduction of ≥1% and/or the weight reduction of ≥3% as recommended by the Catalan Health Service. In 2854 patients who initiated a GLP-1RA during 2014 and 2015, the overall mean HbA1c values were reduced from the baseline by −0.84% (SD = 1.66) (−9.2 mmol/mol) and lost on average 2.73 kg (SD = 6.2). About 44% percent of patients decreased their HbA1c by ≥1%; 44% decreased their weight by ≥3%; and only 22% met both of them together. The odds of achieving a reduction of ≥1% in initial HbA1c were two-fold higher for patients with higher baseline levels, and the likelihood of a reduction of ≥3% in the initial weight was associated with a higher BMI at the baseline, but they were independent of each other. The composite outcome (target 1% HbA1c reduction and 3% weight loss) to evaluate both the GLP-1RA clinical benefit and treatment withdrawal should be judged from a patient-centered approach.

No Impact of Pre-existing Cardiovascular Disease on Prescribing Patterns of Sulphonylureas in Denmark - A Registry-based Nationwide Study

Uncertainty exists regarding cardiovascular (CV) safety of sulphonylureas (SUs) as reflected in package labels and treatment guidelines. This study evaluated clinical treatment practice for SUs by analysing prescription patterns for SUs relative to patient history of CV disease (CVD). Patients in Denmark initiating treatment with SU or other anti-hyperglycaemic drugs during 2006-12 were retrospectively identified using national health registries. Pre-existing (previous 12 years) overall CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction (MI) were subsequently identified. Proportion of patients with pre-existing CVD was compared between new users of SU and new users of other anti-hyperglycaemic drugs. In total, 50,425 (42.2% females, mean ± SD age 63.3 ± 13.5 years) and 190,438 (46.5% females, age 60.3 ± 15.0 years) patients initiated treatment with SU or other anti-hyperglycaemic drugs, respectively, during 2006-12. The number of patients initiating SU treatment decreased by 63% during 2006-12. The proportion of patients with pre-existing CVD varied between 46.9% and 49.8% among new SU users versus 39.9% and 44.8% among new users of other anti-hyperglycaemic drugs. Corresponding proportions for CHD (17.9-19.9% versus 15.4-16.9%) and MI (6.3-7.5% versus 5.8-6.2%) showed the same pattern. Excluding new gliclazide users (9.6% of all new SU users) from the SU definition did not alter the results. Despite a potentially increased CV risk associated with use of SUs, pre-existing CVD did not decrease clinicians' relative prescriptions of SUs.

Treatment Outcomes and Tolerability Following Initiation of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Primary Care Practices in Germany

BACKGROUND

The aim was to investigate real-world treatment outcomes and tolerability of GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes in Germany.

METHODS

Patients from 323 primary care practices who started any GLP-1RA therapy (89 Byetta, 108 Bydureon, 347 Victoza patients) between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013 (index date) were analyzed retrospectively (Disease Analyzer database, Germany). Changes from baseline in HbA1c, weight, and hypoglycemia were evaluated in 3 follow-up periods of 0-6, 7-12, and 13-18 months.

RESULTS

A total of 544 diabetes patients (mean age: 57.9 years; men: 54%) were eligible for the study. Mean (SD) HbA1c (%) decreased from 8.3 (1.4) at baseline to 7.4 (1.2) in 6 months, 7.6 (1.3) in 7-12 months and 7.6 (1.4) in 13-18 months, respectively ( P < .001 for all), while the proportion of patients with HbA1c <7% increased from 15% at baseline to 38%, 36% and 35% in the corresponding periods ( P < .0001 for all). Multivariate-adjusted beta coefficients corresponding to changes in HbA1c (%) from baseline were -.52, -.44, and -.44, respectively, in the follow-up periods for baseline HbA1c (%) ( P < .0001 for all). The prevalence of hypoglycemia at baseline was 0.7%; this did not change significantly after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice, GLP-1RA treatment was associated with improved glycemic control without increased hypoglycemia for up to 18 months. The higher the baseline HbA1c, the greater the HbA1c reduction recorded.

Training healthcare professionals in quality improvement

The Academy of Medical Royal College's report Quality improvement - training for better outcomes sets a path for the normalisation of quality improvement as part of all health professionals' jobs. This accompanies similar calls to action by the King's Fund and the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and is aligned with NHS Improvement and Health Education England future strategies. These exhortations to action come on the backdrop of increased fiscal constraints within the NHS, low morale, a burgeoning volume of research evidence and audit outputs and increasing complexity of how we deliver care in a bewildering NHS landscape. Asking the question 'how can we do something better?' or 'do we really need to do this?', and building our resilience and capability to respond effectively gives us new purpose, the right skills and a means to influence and make a difference to the safety, -effectiveness and experience of patient care. Most importantly, we do this through harnessing the talents of -multiprofessional teams - with meaningful patient involvement - to rediscover the joy and optimism in our work and what truly motivates us and to see this translated into improved sustainable outcomes for our patients and our working days.