Comparison of clinical characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes among whom different antihyperglycemic agents were prescribed as monotherapy or combination therapy by diabetes specialists

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: We compared clinical characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes for whom different antihyperglycemic agents were prescribed as monotherapy or combination therapy by diabetes specialists in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prescription data for 2005, 2008 and 2011 from diabetes specialists' patient registries identified variables related to prescription of different antihyperglycemic agents. RESULTS: A total of 33,251 prescriptions in 2005, 25,119 in 2008 and 20,631 in 2011 were analyzed. Prescribing insulin was related to younger age, long duration of diabetes and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥8.0%, but was negatively associated with obesity. Prescribing sulfonylureas was related to older age and long duration of diabetes, but not to obesity. Use of biguanides was related to younger age, short duration of diabetes and obesity, but was negatively associated with HbA1c ≥8.0%. A short duration of diabetes and HbA1c ≥8.0% were associated with use of a DPP‐4 inhibitor, but not with obesity. Prescribing GLP‐1 receptor agonists was related to younger age, obesity and HbA1c ≥8.0%. Odds ratios for each antihyperglycemic combination therapy were determined based on the characteristics of each included antihyperglycemic agent. CONCLUSIONS: These results could be expected to reflect in part the consensus of diabetes specialists, and might provide guidance regarding pharmacotherapy in the clinical setting.