Projects per year
Abstract
Background: It is unclear what to do when people with type 2 diabetes have had no or a limited glycemic response to a recently introduced medication. Intra-individual HbA1c variability can obscure true response. Some guidelines suggest stopping apparently ineffective therapy, but no studies have addressed this issue.
Methods: In a retrospective cohort analysis using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), we assessed the outcome of 55,530 patients with type 2 diabetes starting their second or third non-insulin glucose-lowering medication, with a baseline HbA1c > 58 mmol/mol (7.5%). For those with no HbA1c improvement or a limited response at 6 months (HbA1c fall < 5.5 mmol/mol [0.5%]), we compared HbA1c 12 months later in those who continued their treatment unchanged, switched to new treatment, or added new treatment.
Results: An increase or a limited reduction in HbA1c was common, occurring in 21.9% (12,168/55,230), who had a mean HbA1c increase of 2.5 mmol/mol (0.2%). After this limited response, continuing therapy was more frequent (n = 9308; 74%) than switching (n = 1177; 9%) or adding (n = 2163; 17%). Twelve months later, in those who switched medication, HbA1c fell (- 6.8 mmol/mol [- 0.6%], 95%CI - 7.7, - 6.0) only slightly more than those who continued unchanged (- 5.1 mmol/mol [- 0.5%], 95%CI - 5.5, - 4.8). Adding another new therapy was associated with a substantially better reduction (- 12.4 mmol/mol [- 1.1%], 95%CI - 13.1, - 11.7). Propensity score-matched subgroups demonstrated similar results.
Conclusions: Where glucose-lowering therapy does not appear effective on initial HbA1c testing, changing agents does not improve glycemic control. The initial agent should be continued with another therapy added.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 79 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-17 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | BMC Medicine |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 Apr 2019 |
Keywords
- Type 2 diabetes
- Oral glucose-lowering medication
- HbA1c
- Addition
- Switching
- Continuation
- Glycemic control
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'What to do with diabetes therapies when HbA1c lowering is inadequate: add, switch, or continue? A MASTERMIND study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
-
Stratified Medicine in Type 2 Diabetes: Insights from the Study of Drug Response (New Investigator Award)
Pearson, E. (Investigator)
16/02/15 → 15/08/21
Project: Research
-
MASTER MIND - MRC ABPI Stratification and Extreme Response Mechanism in Type 2 Diabetes (Joint with University of Exeter, Newcastle University, Kings College London, University of Oxford and University of Glasgow)
Morris, A. (Investigator), Palmer, C. (Investigator) & Pearson, E. (Investigator)
25/02/13 → 31/05/21
Project: Research