Real-world Evaluation of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RA) on Efficacy and Persistence, Adherence and Therapeutic Inertia Among Type 2 Diabetes Adults With Obesity in the Department of Health of Valencia Clínico-Malvarrosa

Detailed Summary

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive chronic condition associated with a high morbi-mortality that has a considerable impact on healthcare resources. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are incretin mimetics that have been shown to improve glycemic control with a low associated risk of hypoglycemia. Additionally, previous studies have linked the use of GLP-1RA with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events and kidney disease progression. Despite these positive results, GLP1-RA´s prescription, following the failure of treatment with metformin monotherapy or dual therapy, remains low in Spain compared to other countries in our milieu. Furthermore, the use of this therapeutic class is not homogeneous across the different autonomous communities in Spain, and, no objective justification for these differences seems to exist. Consequently, there is a need to understand which are the benefits associated with the use of GLP-1RA, versus intensification with other oral agents, in real-life conditions. In this study, the impact of the use of GLP-1RA on clinical outcomes such as all-cause mortality, cardiovascular and renal outcomes as well as severe hypoglycemia will be evaluated based on the analysis of longitudinal databases that collect the variables of interest generated in a real-life scenario. In addition, both persistence and adherence to treatment in patients treated with GLP-1RA and its impact on the clinical outcomes of interest will be studied. Finally, therapeutic inertia will be analyzed. All these data will contribute to generating cost-effective strategies aimed at improving health outcomes among T2D patients in our setting, reinforcing persistence and adherence to the prescribed treatment, and reducing therapeutic inertia in this group of patients. Since the use of GLP-1RA versus intensification with other oral agents has been associated with better glycemic control, and, when compared to intensification with basal insulin, with a lower incidence of severe hypoglycemia, we hypothesized that T2D adults treated with GLP-1RA would present a lower incidence of cardiovascular and renal outcomes and fewer hospitalizations due to severe hypoglycemia events as well as a decreased all-cause mortality. On the other hand, patients on GLP-1RA who would present greater persistence and adherence to treatment should experience fewer cardiovascular and renal outcomes and lower mortality compared to those with less persistence and adherence. Finally, it is possible that the type of GLP-1RA and the mode of administration, weekly versus daily, may influence adherence, persistence and therapeutic inertia in this group of patients.

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Interventions