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Medication Adherence to Semaglutide Once-Weekly Injection Among Type-2 Diabetes Patients in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia - A
Palanisamy Amirthalingam1, Olayan Salamah Alatawi2, Ahmed Mohsen Elsaid Hamdan1
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Patient Preference and Adherence
|August 27, 2025
Summary
Medication adherence to semaglutide (SOWI) in type-2 diabetes is low, with only 32% adhering. Non-adherence is linked to higher BMI and HbA1C, underscoring the need for patient motivation in managing T2D.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Semaglutide, a once-weekly injection (SOWI), is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist used for type-2 diabetes (T2D) management.
- High discontinuation rates of SOWI are observed within the first year of treatment initiation.
- Understanding medication adherence is crucial for optimizing T2D management with SOWI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the level of medication adherence among type-2 diabetes patients prescribed semaglutide, a once-weekly injection (SOWI).
- To analyze the association between medication adherence, sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical outcomes (HbA1C, BMI) in T2D patients using SOWI.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 434 T2D patients refilling SOWI prescriptions.
- Data collection included sociodemographic information, Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) scores, proportion of days covered (PDC), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and body mass index (BMI).
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess associations between adherence, patient characteristics, and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Only 32.48% of patients demonstrated adherence to SOWI based on ARMS scores.
- Non-adherence was significantly associated with higher BMI (overweight/obese) and HbA1C levels (>7%).
- Adherence to both ARMS and PDC correlated with significant reductions in mean BMI and HbA1C compared to non-adherent groups.
Conclusions:
- Medication adherence to SOWI in T2D patients is not significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors.
- Enhancing patient motivation for timely SOWI refills and administration is essential for improving adherence.
- Improved adherence to SOWI directly impacts glycemic control (HbA1C) and body mass index (BMI) in T2D management.
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