Real-World Utilization of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Overweight and Obese US Adults
Author(s)
David Iwanyckyj, BA, Rohan Vashi, PharmD, MS, Pablo Racana, BS, Melanie Jardim, PhD;
Amplity, Langhorne, PA, USA
Amplity, Langhorne, PA, USA
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are a cornerstone of type 2 diabetes and weight-loss treatment. Approvals in weight loss treatment for some GLP-1 RAs have increased popularity of these drugs, resulting in possible off-label usage. This research aims to characterize real-world usage of GLP-1 RAs among overweight and obese US adults.
METHODS: Natural language processing was used to search and analyze the Amplity AnswerY™ real-world database, composed of AI and NLP compliantly reviewed US-based transcribed physician notes, for patients who had received a GLP-1 RA as a class or specific agent from January 1, 2017, to October 30, 2024. Patient demographics and comorbidities were aggregated, and drug-utilization data were summarized for overweight or obese patients with and without diabetes, and BMI <25, 25-26, 27-29, and ≥30.
RESULTS: AnswerY identified 124,400 patients utilizing a GLP-1 RA. Patients utilizing GLP-1 RAs were older (age, mean ± SD: 61 ± 12.8 years) and of White ethnicity (82.9%). Among overweight or obese patients, 92.4% of patients had diabetes, whereas 7.6% did not have diabetes. Most patients with a recorded BMI had a BMI ≥30 (68.3%). Liraglutide was the most utilized GLP-1 RA among patients with and without diabetes (44.5%/49.5%), then dulaglutide (34.7%/15.5%) and semaglutide (15.6%/35.6%). BMI-stratified groups were similar. Comorbidities were present in 82.1% and 64.9% of patients with and without diabetes respectively. The most common comorbidities in patients with diabetes were cardiovascular disease (49.3%) and sleep disorders (43.1%). Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors were used among 16.5% of all patients, with empagliflozin the most commonly utilized.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the AnswerY database, liraglutide was the most used GLP-1 RA for patients with and without diabetes. AnswerY found that BMI appeared to have little effect on real-world GLP-1 RA utilization. GLP-1 RA utilization is high, though dulaglutide usage in patients without diabetes suggests potential off-label usage.
METHODS: Natural language processing was used to search and analyze the Amplity AnswerY™ real-world database, composed of AI and NLP compliantly reviewed US-based transcribed physician notes, for patients who had received a GLP-1 RA as a class or specific agent from January 1, 2017, to October 30, 2024. Patient demographics and comorbidities were aggregated, and drug-utilization data were summarized for overweight or obese patients with and without diabetes, and BMI <25, 25-26, 27-29, and ≥30.
RESULTS: AnswerY identified 124,400 patients utilizing a GLP-1 RA. Patients utilizing GLP-1 RAs were older (age, mean ± SD: 61 ± 12.8 years) and of White ethnicity (82.9%). Among overweight or obese patients, 92.4% of patients had diabetes, whereas 7.6% did not have diabetes. Most patients with a recorded BMI had a BMI ≥30 (68.3%). Liraglutide was the most utilized GLP-1 RA among patients with and without diabetes (44.5%/49.5%), then dulaglutide (34.7%/15.5%) and semaglutide (15.6%/35.6%). BMI-stratified groups were similar. Comorbidities were present in 82.1% and 64.9% of patients with and without diabetes respectively. The most common comorbidities in patients with diabetes were cardiovascular disease (49.3%) and sleep disorders (43.1%). Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors were used among 16.5% of all patients, with empagliflozin the most commonly utilized.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the AnswerY database, liraglutide was the most used GLP-1 RA for patients with and without diabetes. AnswerY found that BMI appeared to have little effect on real-world GLP-1 RA utilization. GLP-1 RA utilization is high, though dulaglutide usage in patients without diabetes suggests potential off-label usage.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
RWD112
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)