Patterns and costs associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use in US adults with type 2 diabetes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) offer cardiorenal benefits in diabetes management. Since 2020, public awareness of GLP-1 RAs for diabetes, weight loss, and the prevention of cardiovascular disease has led to a surge in their utilization. However, the high cost of GLP-1 RAs and limitations in insurance coverage have been considered significant barriers to access. Current knowledge regarding how GLP-1 RA use affects total health care costs in diabetes care after 2020 in the United States remains limited. Consequently, further research is needed to examine the financial burden of GLP-1 RA use on patients and payers, as well as its overall impact on total health care costs at the national level.

To examine GLP-1 RA utilization and association with health care costs among US adults with type 2 diabetes.

Using data from the 2021-2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the study sample included individuals (aged ≥18 years) with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Outcomes included GLP-1 RA use and all-cause and diabetes-related health care costs, including medical and prescription drug costs paid by patients and insurers. Generalized linear regression with a log link and gamma distribution was used to assess the effect of GLP-1 RA use on health care costs, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics.

Among 3,587 eligible adults with type 2 diabetes, 637 (18.8%) used GLP-1 RAs, representing an estimated 3.66 million US adults-a marked increase compared with pre-2020 estimates of less than 10%. Fewer older adults (aged ≥65 years) used GLP-1 RAs (35.1%) compared with adults aged 45-64 years (50.6%). The average annual per-person cost of GLP-1 RA was $6,947. Although insurance covered more than 95% of GLP-1 RA cost, these medications represented a substantial proportion of diabetes care costs: 63.3% of antidiabetic drug costs and 55.7% of total diabetes-related costs among GLP-1 RA users. After adjustment, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a 219% increase in diabetes-related costs and a 55.3% increase in total all-cause health care costs.

GLP-1 RA utilization among US adults with type 2 diabetes has substantially increased, with use in 2021-2022 nearly double that of the period prior to 2020. The higher health care costs associated with taking GLP-1 RAs were largely attributable to high drug costs, of which over 95% were covered by insurance.