Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
5 years ago

Patterns of glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus initiating second-line therapy after metformin monotherapy: Retrospective data for 10 256 individuals from the United Kingdom and Germany

Antonio Nicolucci, Niklas Hammar, Josh Hiller, Laura Garcia-Alvarez, Jesús Medina, Marina V. Shestakova, Stuart Pocock, Linong Ji, Kiyoshi Hashigami, Thomas R. Godec, Mikhail Kosiborod, Peter Fenici, Bernard Charbonnel, Javier Cid-Ruzafa, Marilia B. Gomes, Kamlesh Khunti
Aim To investigate determinants of change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at 6 months after initiating uninterrupted second-line glucose-lowering therapies. Materials and methods This cohort study utilized retrospective data from 10 256 patients with T2DM who initiated second-line glucose-lowering therapy (switch from or add-on to metformin) between 2011 and 2014 in Germany and the UK. Effects of pre-specified patient characteristics on 6-month HbA1c changes were assessed using analysis of covariance. Results Patients had a mean (standard error [SE]) baseline HbA1c of 8.68% (0.02); 28.5% of patients discontinued metformin and switched to an alternative therapy; the remainder initiated add-on therapy. Mean (SE) unadjusted 6-month HbA1c change was −1.27% (0.02). When adjusted for baseline HbA1c, 6-month changes depended markedly on the magnitude of the baseline HbA1c (HbA1c <9%, −0.45% per unit increase in HbA1c; HbA1c ≥9%, −0.87% per unit increase in HbA1c). Adjusted mean 6-month HbA1c reductions showed slight treatment differences (range: 0.92%–1.09%; p < 0.001). Greater reductions in HbA1c were associated with second-line treatment initiation within 6 months of T2DM diagnosis (1.36% vs 1.03% [P < 0.001]) and advanced age (≥70 years, 1.13%; <70 years, 1.02% [P < 0.001]). Conclusions Many patients with T2DM have very high HbA1c levels when initiating second-line therapy, indicating the need for earlier treatment intensification. Patient-specific factors merit consideration when making treatment decisions.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1111/dom.13083

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