2232-PUB: Reasons for Treatment Discontinuation in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D): Results from an Online Patient Survey in the UK and U.S.

Abstract

T2D is a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment to achieve and maintain glycemic control. However, up to 50% of people with T2D discontinue treatment by 1 year. To better understand why this occurs, an online questionnaire was presented to people with T2D in the UK (n=72) and U.S. (n=89) on the PatientLive® platform of Carenity, a global online patient community. For those who discontinued at least one of their T2D treatments within the last 6 months, open-ended questions aimed to assess the reasons why, how it could have been prevented, and what would have improved the experience with the discontinued treatment. Thematic qualitative analysis was performed on respondents’ answers to these open-ended questions. Overall, oral antidiabetics were the most commonly discontinued treatment type (93/161), followed by insulin (40/161) and other injectable antidiabetics (13/161). The most common reasons for treatment discontinuation were side effects (57/161), mostly gastrointestinal side effects and weight gain. Drug efficacy issues were the second most reported reason (42/161). In the U.S., cost of treatment played an important role (14/89). For the respondents, key factors to prevent discontinuation would have been an improved care pathway (45/161) and more efficacious treatments with fewer side effects (41/161). In the U.S., a lower price was also noted as an improvement factor (12/89). More information about T2D and associated treatments (56/161), help on how to manage T2D (24/161), and better informing of doctors of patients’ needs (12/161) would have been helpful for many respondents in both the UK and U.S. Notably, however, many respondents confirmed that they were sufficiently informed (64/161). These results emphasize the need for focused education and improved communication to enhance patient experience and prevent treatment discontinuation, and highlight the importance of therapies with attributes preferred by people with T2D that better fit their needs. Disclosure A. Roborel de Climens: Employee; Self; Sanofi. E. Pain: Consultant; Self; Sanofi. A.H. Boss: Employee; Self; Sanofi. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. A. Shaunik: None. Funding Sanofi