The change in Fibrosis-4 index in Japanese patients with type2 diabetes treated by a fixed-ratio combination therapy of insulin degludec and liraglutide: A retrospective observational study.

Abstract

The efficacy of titratable fixed-ratio combination therapy by a combination preparation of insulin degludec and liraglutide (IDegLira) in Japanese patients with type2 diabetes, focusing particularly on the change in Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), a noninvasive method for the evaluation of liver fibrosis, was investigated. As the full analysis set, 113 patients were treated with IDegLira. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the absence (GLP-1RA-naïve group, n=72) or presence (GLP-1RA-treated group, n=41) of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) use before starting IDegLira. The clinical parameters were retrospectively determined over 6months. The glycated hemoglobin value was significantly reduced in both groups. The bodyweight significantly decreased from 67.4±11.0kg at baseline to 66.4±11.6kg at 6months in the GLP-1RA-naïve group, although it slightly increased in the GLP-1RA-treated group. FIB-4 significantly decreased from 1.60±0.84 at baseline to 1.49±0.74 at 6months in the GLP-1RA-naïve group. Although FIB-4 significantly increased in the GLP-1RA-treated group, it remained within the low-risk level for liver fibrosis. Fixed-ratio combination therapy using IDegLira for the treatment of type2 diabetes is useful for glycemic control and weight management. In particular, IDegLira may be more effective for lowering FIB-4 than adding unused oral antidiabetic agents or increasing the dose of insulin in GLP-1RA-naïve patients.