Discontinuation Rates of Once-Weekly GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Author(s)
Da Sol Kim, PharmD, MS1, Tim Reynolds, PharmD, MS1, Paul Godley, PharmD, FASHP1, Delaney Ivy, PharmD2;
1Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA, 2Texas A&M University, Temple, TX, USA
1Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA, 2Texas A&M University, Temple, TX, USA
OBJECTIVES: This study utilizes electronic health records (EHR) and claims data to better understand rates of discontinuation of once-weekly GLP-1 RAs in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients with T2D who were prescribed once-weekly GLP-1 RAs at a large health system in Texas, identified using ICD-10 codes E11 between December 20, 2022, and December 20, 2023. Patients had at least one once-weekly GLP-1 RA order with an associated prescription claim within 30 days. The primary outcome of the study was time to treatment discontinuation for each once-weekly GLP-1 RA product. GLP-1 RA discontinuation was defined as having a >60-day gap in GLP-1 RA therapy or switching to a different once-weekly GLP-1 RA product. Survival curves were constructed using unadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates.
RESULTS: Of 22,436 eligible T2D patients, 64.2% patients were initially prescribed semaglutide, 17.5% tirzepatide, 17.9% dulaglutide, and 0.4% long-acting exenatide. Within a year of initiation, 58.6% discontinued initial treatment. The median time to treatment discontinuation was 327 days for tirzepatide, 240 days for semaglutide, 214 days for dulaglutide, and 153 days for long-acting exenatide. Tirzepatide had the lowest 1-year discontinuation rate at 50.0%, while long-acting exenatide had the highest rate at 71.3%.
CONCLUSIONS: This is among the few studies that assessed discontinuation of once-weekly GLP-1 RAs in patients with T2D. Among once-weekly GLP-1 RA products, tirzepatide had the lowest discontinuation rate.
METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients with T2D who were prescribed once-weekly GLP-1 RAs at a large health system in Texas, identified using ICD-10 codes E11 between December 20, 2022, and December 20, 2023. Patients had at least one once-weekly GLP-1 RA order with an associated prescription claim within 30 days. The primary outcome of the study was time to treatment discontinuation for each once-weekly GLP-1 RA product. GLP-1 RA discontinuation was defined as having a >60-day gap in GLP-1 RA therapy or switching to a different once-weekly GLP-1 RA product. Survival curves were constructed using unadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates.
RESULTS: Of 22,436 eligible T2D patients, 64.2% patients were initially prescribed semaglutide, 17.5% tirzepatide, 17.9% dulaglutide, and 0.4% long-acting exenatide. Within a year of initiation, 58.6% discontinued initial treatment. The median time to treatment discontinuation was 327 days for tirzepatide, 240 days for semaglutide, 214 days for dulaglutide, and 153 days for long-acting exenatide. Tirzepatide had the lowest 1-year discontinuation rate at 50.0%, while long-acting exenatide had the highest rate at 71.3%.
CONCLUSIONS: This is among the few studies that assessed discontinuation of once-weekly GLP-1 RAs in patients with T2D. Among once-weekly GLP-1 RA products, tirzepatide had the lowest discontinuation rate.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
PCR10
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Adherence, Persistence, & Compliance
Disease
SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)