Exenatide BID and liraglutide QD treatment patterns among type 2 diabetes patients in Germany

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Objectives:This study evaluated patient and prescriber characteristics, treatment patterns, average daily dose (ADD), and glycemic control of patients initiating glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in Germany.Methods:The LifeLink™ EMR-EU database was searched to identify patients initiating exenatide twice daily (BID) or liraglutide once daily (QD) during the index period (January 1, 2009–April 4, 2010). Eligible patients had ≥180 days pre-index history, ≥90 days post-index follow-up, and a pre-index type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Univariate tests were conducted at α = 0.05.Results:Six hundred and ninety-two patients were included (exenatide BID 292, liraglutide QD 400): mean (SD) age 59 (10) years, 59% male. Diabetologists prescribed liraglutide QD to a larger share of patients (65% vs 35% exenatide BID) than non-diabetologists (51% vs 49%). GLP-1 receptor agonist choice was not associated with age (p = 0.282), gender (p = 0.960), number of pre-index glucose-lowering medications (2.0 [0.9], p = 0.159), pre-index HbA1c (8.2 [1.5%], p = 0.231) or Charlson Comorbidity Index score (0.45 [0.78], p = 0.547). Mean (SD) ADD was 16.7 mcg (9.2, label range 10–20 mcg) for exenatide BID and 1.4 mg (0.7, label range 0.6–1.8 mg) for liraglutide QD. Among patients with post-index HbA1c tests, mean unadjusted values did not differ between cohorts. Exenatide BID patients were more likely than liraglutide QD patients to continue pre-index glucose-lowering medications (67.1% vs 60.3%, p = 0.027) or to start concomitant glucose-lowering medications at index (32.2% vs 25.0%, p = 0.013); exenatide BID patients were less likely to augment treatment with another drug post-index (15.8% vs 22.5%, p = 0.027).Limitations:Results may not be generalizable. Lab measures for clinical outcomes were available only for a sub-set of patients.Conclusions:Results suggested that some differences exist between patients initiating exenatide BID or liraglutide QD, with respect to prescribing physician specialty and pre- and post-index treatment patterns. Both GLP-1 receptor agonists showed comparable post-index HbA1c values in a sub-set of patients.