OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence of glycemic control by body mass index (BMI) and explore the relationship between obesity and glycemic control among people with type 2 diabetes (PwT2D) in Europe.

METHODS: This retrospective study utilized IQVIA electronic medical records (EMR) databases in France (FR; Longitudinal patient database [LPD], general practitioner [GP] panels, and endocrinologist/diabetologist [ED] panels), Germany (DE; Disease Analyzer, GP and ED panels), and Italy (IT; LPD, GP panel). Adult PwT2D were identified with recorded HbA1c laboratory result and BMI value measured within 90 days of each other between 1/2015 and 12/2018 (second record termed the ‘index date’). PwT2D had a 1-year baseline period to characterize the sample and a recorded HbA1c at the end of the 1-year post-index period. The relationship between baseline BMI and baseline HbA1c/post-index HbA1c was assessed descriptively.

RESULTS: The final sample comprised 77,522 PwT2D. At baseline, 45-61% did not have obesity (BMI <30.0 kg/m²) and 43-63% were below HbA1c target (<7.0%). Higher baseline BMI was associated with higher baseline HbA1c. At baseline, a higher proportion of PwT2D without obesity were below HbA1c target compared to their counterparts with obesity (FR/GP: 63% vs. 55%; FR/ED: 48% vs. 36%; DE/GP: 68% vs. 59%; DE/ED: 60% vs. 52%; IT/GP: 57% vs. 50%). A higher proportion of patients that were non-obese at baseline had post-index HbA1c below target compared to their counterparts with obesity (FR/GP: 63% vs. 58%, FR/ED: 44% vs. 39%; DE/GP: 69% vs. 62%; DE/ED: 61% vs. 53%; IT/GP: 60% vs. 55%).

CONCLUSIONS: This study presents updated demographic statistics on trends in BMI and HbA1c in several EU populations with T2D. Higher BMI was associated with poorer glycemic control. Therapies that both improve glycemic control and reduce weight, could have substantial impacts towards improving health outcomes in PwT2D.