Persistent disparities in diabetes medication receipt by socio‐economic disadvantage in Australia

Background It is unknown how use of newer glucose‐lowering drugs (GLDs) has changed in Australia following the publication of clinical trials demonstrating definitive clinical advantages for glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RAs) and sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), and whether this varies by socio‐economic disadvantage. Methods We included 1,064,645 people with type 2 diabetes registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme. This cohort was linked to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme database to evaluate trends in diabetes medication receipt and variation by socio‐economic disadvantage between 2013 and 2019. Results The proportion of people with type 2 diabetes receiving ≥3 GLDs concurrently increased from 12% in 2013 to 25% in 2019. By 2019, 6% of people with diabetes were receiving a GLP‐1 RA and 21% an SGLT2i. Disparities in receipt of GLP‐1 RAs and SGLT2is by socio‐economic disadvantage decreased over time (ORs for most vs. least disadvantaged quintile were 0.80 [0.77–0.85] and 0.87 [0.82–0.94] in 2014 and 0.95 [0.92–0.98] and 1.07 [1.05–1.09] in 2019 for GLP‐1 RAs and SGLT2is, respectively). However, people in more disadvantaged areas were more likely to receive multiple GLDs. After stratifying by number of concurrent GLDs received, people in more disadvantaged areas were less likely to receive GLP‐1 RAs and SGLT2is in 2019 (ORs for most vs. least disadvantaged: 0.81 [0.78–0.84] and 0.90 [0.87–0.93] for people receiving ≥3 GLDs, respectively). Conclusions After controlling for intensity of glucose‐lowering therapy, people in more disadvantaged areas were less likely to receive cardioprotective GLDs, although disparities decreased over time.