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Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Patterns Across Europe: A Population-based Multi-database Study
Jetty A Overbeek1, Edith M Heintjes2, Daniel Prieto-Alhambra3
1PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands; EMGO Institute for Health and Care research, Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Clinical Therapeutics
|March 27, 2017
Summary
Treatment patterns for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) varied across five European countries. Differences in prescribing newer incretin-based treatments reflect national guideline variations, impacting patient care.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Endocrinology
- Public Health and Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management requires understanding real-world treatment patterns.
- Variations in clinical practice may arise from differing national guidelines and drug availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare T2DM treatment patterns in five European countries.
- To assess if observed treatment patterns align with national guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of prescription data from electronic databases over five years.
- Inclusion of patients initiating T2DM treatment during the study period.
- Development of an SAS tool to define drug class usage and treatment patterns.
Main Results:
- Metformin was the universal initial T2DM treatment.
- Combination therapy with metformin and sulfonylurea derivatives (SU) was common in the Netherlands, Spain, and UK.
- France showed higher use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, while Italy utilized repaglinide more frequently.
Conclusions:
- Significant variations exist in T2DM treatment initiation and progression across European countries.
- The adoption of novel incretin-based therapies differs, influenced by national guidelines.
- These findings highlight the impact of national policies on T2DM management.
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