Initiating second-line antidiabetic medication among older adults with type 2 diabetes on Metformin

Factors Affecting Prescribing of Type 2 Diabetes Medications in Older Adults within an Integrated Healthcare System

BACKGROUND

Despite type 2 diabetes guidelines recommending against the use of sulfonylureas in older adults and for the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2) and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP1s) in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and heart failure (HF), real-world guideline-concordant prescribing remains low. While some factors such as cost have been suggested, an in-depth analysis of the factors associated with guideline-concordant prescribing is warranted.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the extent of guideline-concordant prescribing in an integrated health care delivery system and examine provider and patient level factors that influence guideline-concordant prescribing.

DESIGN

We performed a cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were included if they had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, were prescribed a second-line diabetes medication between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 and were at least 65 years old at the time of this second-line prescription.

MAIN MEASURES

Our outcome of interest was guideline-concordant prescribing. The definition of guideline-concordant prescribing was based on American Diabetes Association and American Geriatric Society recommendations as well as expert consensus. Factors affecting guideline concordant prescribing included patient demographics and provider characteristics among others.

KEY RESULTS

We included 1,693 patients of which only 50% were prescribed guideline-concordant medications. In a subgroup of 843 patients with cardiorenal conditions, only 30% of prescriptions were guideline concordant. Prescribing of guideline-concordant prescriptions was more likely among pharmacists than physicians (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.19-1.51, p<0.001) and in endocrinology practices compared to primary care practices (RR 1.41 95% CI 1.16-1.72, p=0.007). Additionally, guideline concordant prescribing increased over time (42% in 2018 vs 53% in 2019 vs 53% in 2020, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Guideline-concordant prescribing remains low in older adults, especially among those with cardiorenal conditions. Future studies should examine barriers to prescribing guideline-concordant medications and interventions to improve guideline-concordant prescribing.

Medicare formulary restrictions for glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors used in type 2 diabetes mellitus: 2019-2023

BACKGROUND

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have proven benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus related to decreasing cardiovascular events and heart failure hospitalizations as well as preventing the progression of kidney disease. This led the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to update their guidelines in 2022 to recommend GLP1-RAs and SGLT2is as potential first-line options in patients with cardiorenal conditions. Formulary restrictions, such as step therapy and prior authorizations, can limit access to these beneficial medications.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate trends in Medicare formulary restrictions of GLP1-RAs and SGLT2is following the recommendations by the ADA for first-line use.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Quarter 1 Medicare formulary restrictions on GLP1-RAs and SGLT2is from 2019 to 2023. We analyzed changes in formulary restrictions by year, before and after the ADA first-line recommendations, single vs combination products, and products with and without other indications on a medication level (ie, each unique National Drug Code number on each unique formulary) and formulary level (ie, any prior authorization or step therapy requirements yield formulary restriction).

RESULTS

We analyzed 12,212 unique Medicare formularies. GLP1-RAs were 12.5% less likely (relative risk [RR] = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.84-0.91; P < 0.001) and 33.2% less likely (RR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.60-0.74; P < 0.001) to have restrictions after the ADA guideline changes on a medication and formulary level, respectively. SGLT2is were 87.8% less likely (RR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.11-0.13; P < 0.001) and 53.0% less likely (RR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.27-0.80; P = 0.005) to have restrictions after the ADA guideline changes on medication and formulary levels, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreasing trends of medications and formularies with restrictions may indicate payers are recognizing GLP1-RAs and SGLT2is as potential first-line agents, aligning with ADA recommendations.

Association Between ICD-10 Codes for Social Needs and Subsequent Emergency and Inpatient Use

BACKGROUND

International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision Z codes capture social needs related to health care encounters and may identify elevated risk of acute care use.

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations between Z code assignment and subsequent acute care use and explore associations between social need category and acute care use.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SUBJECTS

Adults continuously enrolled in a commercial or Medicare Advantage plan for ≥15 months (12-month baseline, 3-48 month follow-up).

OUTCOMES

All-cause emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient admissions during study follow-up.

RESULTS

There were 352,280 patients with any assigned Z codes and 704,560 sampled controls with no Z codes. Among patients with commercial plans, Z code assignment was associated with a 26% higher rate of ED visits [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) 1.26, 95% CI: 1.25-1.27] and 42% higher rate of inpatient admissions (aIRR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.39-1.44) during follow-up. Among patients with Medicare Advantage plans, Z code assignment was associated with 42% (aIRR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.40-1.43) and 28% (aIRR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.26-1.30) higher rates of ED visits and inpatient admissions, respectively. Within the Z code group, relative to community/social codes, socioeconomic Z codes were associated with higher rates of inpatient admissions (commercial: aIRR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.14; Medicare Advantage: aIRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.20-1.27), and environmental Z codes were associated with lower rates of both primary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Z code assignment was independently associated with higher subsequent emergency and inpatient utilization. Findings suggest Z codes' potential utility for risk prediction and efforts targeting avoidable utilization.

The effect of polypharmacy on healthcare services utilization in older adults with comorbidities: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Older adults are more prone to increasing comorbidities and polypharmacy. Polypharmacy is associated with inappropriate prescribing and an increased risk of adverse effects. This study examined the effect of polypharmacy in older adults on healthcare services utilization (HSU). It also explored the impact of different drug classes of polypharmacy including psychotropic, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic polypharmacy on HSU.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study. Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years were selected from the primary care patient cohort database of the ambulatory clinics of the Department of Family Medicine at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Concomitant use of 5 or more prescription medications was considered polypharmacy. Demographics, Charlson Comorbidity index (CCI), and HSU outcomes, including the rate of all-cause emergency department (ED) visits, rate of all-cause hospitalization, rate of ED visits for pneumonia, rate of hospitalization for pneumonia, and mortality were collected. Binomial logistic regression models were used to predict the rates of HSU outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 496 patients were analyzed. Comorbidities were present in all patients, with 22.8% (113) of patients having mild to moderate comorbidity and 77.2% (383) of patients having severe comorbidity. Patients with polypharmacy were more likely to have severe comorbidity compared to patients with no polypharmacy (72.3% vs. 27.7%, p = 0.001). Patients with polypharmacy were more likely to visit the ED for all causes as compared to patients without polypharmacy (40.6% vs. 31.4%, p = 0.05), and had a significantly higher rate of all-cause hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio aOR 1.66, 95 CI = 1.08-2.56, p = 0.022). Patients with psychotropic polypharmacy were more likely to be hospitalized due to pneumonia (crude odds ratio cOR 2.37, 95 CI = 1.03-5.46, p = 0.043), and to visit ED for Pneumonia (cOR 2.31, 95 CI = 1.00-5.31, p = 0.049). The association lost significance after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing prevalence of polypharmacy amongst the geriatric population with comorbidity is associated with an increase in HSU outcomes. As such, frequent medication revisions in a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach are needed.

Diabetes and cognitive function: An evidence-based current perspective

Several epidemiological studies have clearly identified diabetes mellitus (DM) as a major risk factor for cognitive dysfunction, and it is going to be a major public health issue in the coming years because of the alarming rise in diabetes prevalence across the world. Brain and neural tissues predominantly depend on glucose as energy substrate and hence, any alterations in carbohydrate meta-bolism can directly impact on cerebral functional output including cognition, executive capacity, and memory. DM affects neuronal function and mental capacity in several ways, some of which include hypoperfusion of the brain tissues from cerebrovascular disease, diabetes-related alterations of glucose transporters causing abnormalities in neuronal glucose uptake and metabolism, local hyper- and hypometabolism of brain areas from insulin resistance, and recurrent hypoglycemic episodes inherent to pharmacotherapy of diabetes resulting in neuronal damage. Cognitive decline can further worsen diabetes care as DM is a disease largely self-managed by patients. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the pathobiology of cognitive dysfunction in relation to DM and its management for optimal long-term care plan for patients. A thorough appraisal of normal metabolic characteristics of the brain, how alterations in neural metabolism affects cognition, the diagnostic algorithm for patients with diabetes and dementia, and the management and prognosis of patients when they have this dangerous combination of illnesses is imperative in this context. This evidence-based narrative with the back-up of latest clinical trial reviews elaborates the current understanding on diabetes and cognitive function to empower physicians to manage their patients in day-to-day clinical practice.

Potential Risk of Overtreatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Aged 75 Years or Older: Data from a Population Database in Catalonia, Spain

Aim: To assess the potential risk of overtreatment in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) aged 75 years or older in primary care. Methods: Electronic health records retrieved from the SIDIAP database (Catalonia, Spain) in 2016. Variables: age, gender, body mass index, registered hypoglycemia, last HbA1c and glomerular filtration rates, and prescriptions for antidiabetic drugs. Potential overtreatment was defined as having HbA1c < 7% or HbA1c < 6.5% in older patients treated with insulin, sulfonylureas, or glinides. Results: From a total population of 138,374 T2DM patients aged 75 years or older, 123,515 had at least one HbA1c available. An HbA1c below 7.0% was present in 59.1% of patients, and below 6.5% in 37.7%. Overall, 23.0% of patients were treated with insulin, 17.8% with sulfonylureas, and 6.6% with glinides. Potential overtreatment (HbA1c < 7%) was suspected in 26.6% of patients treated with any high-risk drug, 47.8% with sulfonylureas, 43.5% with glinides, and 28.1% with insulin. Using the threshold of HbA1c < 6.5%, these figures were: 21.6%, 24.4%, 17.9%, and 12.3%, respectively. Conclusion: One in four older adults with T2DM treated with antidiabetic drugs associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia might be at risk of overtreatment. This risk is higher in those treated with sulfonylureas or glinides than with insulin.