Research looks at therapeutic inertia related to injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists dulaglutide and semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes

Multiple examples of therapeutic inertia in type 2 diabetes have been identified in a new research study.

A team of academics have detected that the first prescription at HbA1c levels were considerably above target.

According to the research, a substantial proportion of people with type 2 diabetes therefore did not achieve optimal HbA1c targets.

The aim of this study was to determine the extent of therapeutic inertia related to the weekly injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists dulaglutide and semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes in the UK.

During the experiment, the team of scientists looked at the health of participants identified from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD primary care database.

They assessed doses prescribed, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI) and concomitant type 2 diabetes medications at first prescription and at three, six and nine months.

The study states: “Of the people prescribed dulaglutide and semaglutide, 93 per cent and 89 per cent respectively, had an HbA1c level ≥7.5 per cent, and 56.4 per cent and 54.9 per cent, respectively, had HbA1c ≥9.0 per cent, at first prescription.

“At six to nine months, 75 per cent of those on dulaglutide 0.75 mg and 57.6 per cent of those on semaglutide 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg had HbA1c ≥7.5 per cent.”

The study adds: “At 9 months, 21.9 per cent of the dulaglutide cohort was on the suboptimal dose of 0.75 mg, and 46.1 per cent of the semaglutide cohort were on the suboptimal doses of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg.”

To read the research, click here.