Characteristics of Patients Initiating Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists (RAs) for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in a Medicare Population
Moderator
Shivani Aggarwal, Landmark Science, Inc, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Speakers
Jonathan Watts; Na An; David Goldfarb; Sushma Reddy Vadyala; Puneet Budhiraja
OBJECTIVES: GLP-1 RAs have been approved for Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. More recently, in March 2024, Wegovy (semaglutide) became the first GLP-1 RA approved for cardiovascular risk reduction. Here, we describe clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and trends of GLP-1 RA initiators for T2D, obesity, and cardiovascular risk in a large US Medicare population.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of adult (≥18 years) US patients initiating GLP-1 RAs between January 01, 2018-June 30, 2024 using the Medicare 100% Fee-for-Service (FFS) claims database, which covers beneficiaries ≥65 and those with disabilities. Patients were required to have ≥6 months of continuous health plan and pharmacy coverage (Part A, Part B, and Part D). Clinical and treatment characteristics were described. Descriptive analyses were performed to identify trends in GLP-1 RA utilization.
RESULTS: Among 59,954,902 FFS patients in the Medicare database, 1,204,308 adult patients initiated GLP-1 RAs. The median age was 69 years, 55.7% were female, 74.9% were White, and 8.5% were Hispanic. The majority (87.8%) of patients had T2D and 45.5% were overweight or obese prior to initiating GLP-1 RA. Commonly occurring comorbidities included peripheral vascular disease (17.3%) and congestive heart failure (16.3%). Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) accounted for half the GLP-1 RAs initiated during the study period, with Ozempic and Rybelsus accounting for 53.8% and 11.4%, respectively, on or after 2022. Wegovy was initiated predominantly from March 2024 onwards, following approval for cardiovascular risk reduction. Majority of prescribers for the index drug were primary care physicians (53.7%), followed by nurse practitioners (18.4%), and endocrinologists (15.1%).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients initiating GLP-1 RAs in the Medicare 100% FFS database increased considerably from 2018-2024. The majority of patients had T2D or were overweight/obese, and were Ozempic users. Wegovy use rose after its March 2024 approval for cardiovascular risk reduction, reflecting broad adoption across patient groups.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of adult (≥18 years) US patients initiating GLP-1 RAs between January 01, 2018-June 30, 2024 using the Medicare 100% Fee-for-Service (FFS) claims database, which covers beneficiaries ≥65 and those with disabilities. Patients were required to have ≥6 months of continuous health plan and pharmacy coverage (Part A, Part B, and Part D). Clinical and treatment characteristics were described. Descriptive analyses were performed to identify trends in GLP-1 RA utilization.
RESULTS: Among 59,954,902 FFS patients in the Medicare database, 1,204,308 adult patients initiated GLP-1 RAs. The median age was 69 years, 55.7% were female, 74.9% were White, and 8.5% were Hispanic. The majority (87.8%) of patients had T2D and 45.5% were overweight or obese prior to initiating GLP-1 RA. Commonly occurring comorbidities included peripheral vascular disease (17.3%) and congestive heart failure (16.3%). Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) accounted for half the GLP-1 RAs initiated during the study period, with Ozempic and Rybelsus accounting for 53.8% and 11.4%, respectively, on or after 2022. Wegovy was initiated predominantly from March 2024 onwards, following approval for cardiovascular risk reduction. Majority of prescribers for the index drug were primary care physicians (53.7%), followed by nurse practitioners (18.4%), and endocrinologists (15.1%).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients initiating GLP-1 RAs in the Medicare 100% FFS database increased considerably from 2018-2024. The majority of patients had T2D or were overweight/obese, and were Ozempic users. Wegovy use rose after its March 2024 approval for cardiovascular risk reduction, reflecting broad adoption across patient groups.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EPH74
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), STA: Multiple/Other Specialized Treatments