RISING MEDICATION BURDEN IN ADULTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES: REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Author(s)
Nan Peng, PhD1, Linfeng Jiang, BS2, Jinbo Zhang, BS3, Dongning Yao, Dr.2, Yexiang Sun, PhD4, Hongbo Lin, Dr.4, Jing Wu, PhD5, Gordon Liu, PhD6, Beini Lyu, Dr.6.
1phd, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology,Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 2Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China, 3China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China, 4Yinzhou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China, 5Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Tianjin, China, 6Peking University, Beijing, China.
1phd, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology,Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 2Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China, 3China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China, 4Yinzhou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China, 5Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Tianjin, China, 6Peking University, Beijing, China.
OBJECTIVES: Evidence on medication burden among adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in China is limited. This study described medication use and polypharmacy trends among adults with T1DM in a large real-world diabetes cohort.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Yinzhou Regional Health Care Database in Ningbo, China. Adults with diabetes and at least one prescription from 2015 to 2021 were included. Diabetes was defined as at least two outpatient diagnoses at least 30 days apart or one inpatient diagnosis, together with at least one prescription record. T1DM patients were identified from the overall diabetes cohort and followed from cohort entry until death, loss to follow-up, or study end. Polypharmacy was defined as use of five or more medications. Medication patterns were assessed for up to six years, and trends were evaluated using regression models.
RESULTS: Among approximately 100,000 adults with diabetes, 209 had T1DM. Mean age was 38.6 years, and 68.9% were younger than 50 years. At baseline, 71.8% had no recorded comorbidity; hypertension was the most common comorbidity (21.5%). From cohort entry to year 6, the median number of medications increased from 1.0 to 2.0. Polypharmacy rose from 12.1% to 28.4%, and use of ten or more medications increased from 1.3% to 6.5%. Insulin and analogues remained the most common glucose-lowering therapy, although use declined from 60.8% to 47.9%. Use increased for thiazolidinediones (3.3% to 10.4%), DPP-4 inhibitors (0.5% to 8.3%), oral combination therapies (1.0% to 6.3%), oral Chinese patent medicines (47.4% to 62.5%), and antihypertensive drugs (24.9% to 43.8%).
CONCLUSIONS: Adults with T1DM represented a small subgroup of this Chinese diabetes cohort but showed a clear rise in medication burden. These findings suggest that medication management in T1DM extends beyond insulin therapy and requires regular review in routine care.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Yinzhou Regional Health Care Database in Ningbo, China. Adults with diabetes and at least one prescription from 2015 to 2021 were included. Diabetes was defined as at least two outpatient diagnoses at least 30 days apart or one inpatient diagnosis, together with at least one prescription record. T1DM patients were identified from the overall diabetes cohort and followed from cohort entry until death, loss to follow-up, or study end. Polypharmacy was defined as use of five or more medications. Medication patterns were assessed for up to six years, and trends were evaluated using regression models.
RESULTS: Among approximately 100,000 adults with diabetes, 209 had T1DM. Mean age was 38.6 years, and 68.9% were younger than 50 years. At baseline, 71.8% had no recorded comorbidity; hypertension was the most common comorbidity (21.5%). From cohort entry to year 6, the median number of medications increased from 1.0 to 2.0. Polypharmacy rose from 12.1% to 28.4%, and use of ten or more medications increased from 1.3% to 6.5%. Insulin and analogues remained the most common glucose-lowering therapy, although use declined from 60.8% to 47.9%. Use increased for thiazolidinediones (3.3% to 10.4%), DPP-4 inhibitors (0.5% to 8.3%), oral combination therapies (1.0% to 6.3%), oral Chinese patent medicines (47.4% to 62.5%), and antihypertensive drugs (24.9% to 43.8%).
CONCLUSIONS: Adults with T1DM represented a small subgroup of this Chinese diabetes cohort but showed a clear rise in medication burden. These findings suggest that medication management in T1DM extends beyond insulin therapy and requires regular review in routine care.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
RWD1
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)