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

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2024 Jul:213:111745. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111745. Epub 2024 Jun 13.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Adherence; Cardiovascular; Diabetes; Persistence; Renal; SCREAM.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / agonists
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence* / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Schweden

Substances

  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
  • Blood Glucose