Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The use of glucagon like peptide 1 analogues (GLP1a) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is growing. After a decade-long effort to improve the pharmacokinetics of GLP1, a number of GLP1a are currently available on the market. With a view to identifying patient characteristics that could influence physicians’ prescription of different GLP1a we carried out this observational study in routine clinical practice conditions. Outcomes after add-on these drugs were described as well.

Methods/design: The study was based on a retrospective design and the following variables were collected to identify potential influencing factors in patient profile at baseline: gender, age, time of evolution of T2DM, body mass index (BMI), HbA1c level and treatment with insulin. To measure outcomes, changes in HbA1c and BMI at 6 months after add-on, were assessed.

Results: 75 poorly controlled patients with T2DM who received any GLP1a as add-on therapy were analysed. There was a homogeneus distribution of patients according to the drugs evaluated (one-third of sample for each one: exenatide-LAR [EL], dulaglutide [D] and liraglutide [L]). At baseline, patients on D were older as compared to other GLP1a (D: 60.8±10.8 vs EL: 51.8±10 vs L: 54.2±10.2 years; P=0.008). There was a nonsignificant trend to prescribe EL in patients with higher BMI ([Kg/m²]: EL: 41.8±8.8 vs L: 40.7±7.3 vs D: 37.8±6.9; P=0.17) and D to patients with higher level of HbA1c ([%]: D: 9.2±1.4 vs EL: 8.7±1.7 vs L: 8.5±1.1; P=0.23). No significant changes in HbA1c and BMI reductions were detected among drugs at 6 months. The highest HbA1c reductions were reached with D (−1.9±1.5% vs EL: −1.2±1.1% vs L: −1.5±1%; P=0.13). BMI reductions were also equivalent among groups.

Conclusions: According to the trends of use of GLP1a, we can conclude that there is a nonsignificant perception of a higher HbA1c-lowering effect and better security profile for D and a higher weight-lowering effect for EL among physicians. Nevertheless, HbA1c and BMI reductions are equivalent among different types of GLP1a in our routine clinical practice.