Efficacy of liraglutide in a real-life cohort

In the Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes (LEAD) randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing liraglutide in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), glycated hemoglobin (A1c) was reduced by 7-16 mmol/mol and weight by up to 3.4 kg. As real-life efficacy data on liraglutide is limited, the authors assessed clinical effects in a real-life cohort.

In this retrospective analysis from the Israeli Health Maintenance Organization Maccabi, of patients with T2DM, treated with liraglutide ≥6 months during 2011-2012, evaluations were performed at baseline and 6 months.

Insulin-naïve patients (n = 1,101) treated with liraglutide with at least one A1c or weight measurement were identified. In 933 patients with an additional A1c value after 6 months, A1c decreased by 9 mmol/mol (p < 0.0001, 95% CI 7-11) from 72 mmol/mol. In patients receiving >2 oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) prior to liraglutide treatment (80.7% patients), A1c decreased by 7 mmol/mol, and in those receiving ≤2 OADs, by 12 mmol/mol. In 453 patients with baseline data available, weight decreased by 2.55 kg (p < 0.0001); 173 patients (38.18%) achieved ≥1% A1c reduction. Furthermore, 91 patients (20.1%) achieved National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria (decreased A1c ≥1%; weight ≥3%). Weight reduction was marginally correlated with A1c reduction.

Evidence from real-life use of liraglutide demonstrated clinical effects similar to those demonstrated in RCTs.