Once-Weekly Semaglutide Use in Type 2 Diabetes: Real-World Data from the SURE Netherlands Observational Study

SURE Netherlands (NCT03929679) evaluated the use of once-weekly (OW) semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), in routine clinical care for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Adults (age ≥ 18 years) with T2D were enrolled into the single-arm study. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to end of study (EOS;  approx. 30 weeks) in glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c). Secondary endpoints were change from baseline to EOS in body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC). Proportions of participants achieving predefined HbA_1c targets and weight-loss responses at EOS, safety, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and treatment satisfaction were assessed.

In total, 211 participants (mean age 60.5 years; diabetes duration 13.3 years) initiated semaglutide; most were receiving metformin (82.9%) and/or basal insulin (59.2%) at baseline, and 6.2% switched from another GLP-1RA. Mean baseline HbA_1c, BW and WC were 8.6%, 105.2 kg and 118.8 cm. In the 186 (88.2%) participants receiving semaglutide at EOS, mean reduction in HbA_1c with semaglutide was - 1.2%-points (95% [confidence interval] CI - 1.3; - 1.0; p < 0.0001), with 124 (70.5%), 95 (54.0%) and 65 (36.9%) participants achieving HbA_1c targets of < 8.0%, < 7.5% and < 7.0%, respectively. Mean reduction in BW was - 7.8 kg [95% CI - 8.7; - 6.8; p < 0.0001], corresponding to relative reduction of - 7.5% [95% CI - 8.4; - 6.6; p < 0.0001]. Improvements in WC (- 8.8 cm [95% CI - 10.4; - 7.2; p < 0.0001]), HRQoL and treatment satisfaction were observed, including across most Short-Form 36 Health Survey domains. One serious adverse drug reaction (cholecystitis) was reported. Eight participants (all receiving concomitant insulin) experienced severe or documented hypoglycaemia.

Individuals with T2D treated with OW semaglutide experienced significant and clinically relevant improvements in glycaemic control and BW from baseline. These results from a diverse real-world population in the Netherlands support the use of OW semaglutide in treating adults with T2D in routine clinical practice.