Prescribing patterns of antidiabetics in type 2 diabetes and factors affecting them

There are limited studies that address the use of newer antidiabetics by prescribers in Saudi Arabia and their adoption of the newer diabetes guidelines. The primary aim of our study was to explore the prescribing patterns of first- and second-line agents for the management of type 2 diabetes and the factors affecting them.

A cross-sectional self-administered survey was designed to collect responses from the prescribers in the Makkah Region of Saudi Arabia from 16 February through 16 June 2021. The questionnaire was developed in the English language, piloted, and tested for validity. Participants were recruited on a convenience sampling basis, and the data were collected by visiting them in-person.

A total of 103 prescribers responded to the survey. The majority of the respondents were male (69%), Saudi nationals (54%), practicing in Makkah city (62%), working in the government sector (62%), and had the prescribing experience of 1-5 years (37%). Metformin (95%) was the respondents' most preferred first-line drug of choice, followed by sulfonylureas (5%). When the first-line was contraindicated, sulfonylureas (30%) were considered the most preferred drug of choice, followed by DPP4 inhibitors (25%) and SGLT2 inhibitors (16%), respectively. When the first-line was not sufficient to control diabetes, sulfonylureas (32%) and DPP4 inhibitors (31%) were considered the most preferred drugs of choice as an add-on therapy. SGLT2 inhibitors (31%) and metformin (24%) were considered the preferred first-line choices if the patient had an established cardiovascular disease.

Sulfonylureas were found to be the most considered choice as second-line therapy. There is a need to provide targeted education to the prescribers related to the newer diabetes guidelines in order to promote the use of more evidence-based and safer antidiabetics.