Impact of delaying treatment intensification with a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist in patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on basal insulin: A longitudinal study of a US administrative claims database

Aim To evaluate the effect of delaying treatment intensification with a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1 RA) on clinical and economic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods We conducted a retrospective observational claims study using IMPACT (Impact National Managed Care Benchmark Database) in adult patients with T2D who initiated basal insulin between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2012, with or without OADs, who remained uncontrolled (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥7.0%). Patients were categorized into 3 groups: early, delayed, and no intensification with a GLP‐1 RA. We evaluated changes from baseline to follow‐up at 12 months for HbA1c level, rate of hypoglycaemic events, and healthcare costs, and we assessed the association between baseline patient characteristics and subsequent treatment intensification. Results A total of 139 patients (9.0% of 1552 eligible patients) met criteria for inclusion in the early intensification group, 588 patients (37.9%) met criteria for inclusion in the delayed intensification group, and 825 patients (53.2%) met criteria for inclusion in the no intensification group. Mean baseline HbA1c values were 9.16%, 9.07%, and 9.34%, respectively. At follow‐up, delayed intensification was associated with significantly smaller decreases in HbA1c from baseline (−0.68%) compared with early intensification (−1.01%). Rates of overall hypoglycaemia were numerically greater in the delayed intensification group than in the early intensification group (0.26 vs 0.06 events/patient‐years of exposure, respectively). Change in semi‐annual total healthcare costs was greater in the no intensification group (+5266 USD) compared with the early intensification group (−560 USD) and the delayed intensification group (+1943 USD). Conclusions Timely addition of a GLP‐1 RA to therapy for patients with T2D who were not adequately controlled with basal insulin is associated with better clinical and economic outcomes.