Real-world HbA1c changes and prescription characteristics among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients initiating treatment with once weekly semaglutide for diabetes

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient, prescriber, and dose characteristics and evaluate changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) for patients prescribed once weekly semaglutide for diabetes (OW sema T2D). Methods This study was a retrospective claims-based study using the Optum Research Database. The sample included adult patients who had at least one claim for OW sema T2D between Jan 1, 2018, and Dec 31, 2019, were continuously enrolled in the health plan and had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) during the pre-index or post-index periods. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients using OW sema T2D were collected, as were the dose and prescriber specialty and the change between pre-index and post-index HbA 1c measures was calculated. Results were stratified by the latest pre-index HbA 1c measurement (HbA 1c greater than or equal to 9.0%, uncontrolled vs. HbA 1c less than 9%, controlled). Statistical comparisons between HbA 1c groups were conducted. Results Most patients, 76.3%, were prescribed a 0.25/0.50 mg dose of OW sema T2D. Patients had an overall decrease in HbA 1c of 0.8% and patients with uncontrolled diabetes had a greater reduction in mean HbA 1c compared to those with controlled diabetes (-2.1% vs. -0.3%, p < 0.001). Most patients had their index dose of OW sema T2D prescribed by endocrinologists (27.6%) primary care providers (24.6%) and internal medicine providers (21.6%). Conclusions OW sema T2D is an effective real-world T2DM treatment. Future research should further investigate real-world use patterns of this medication.