Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor After Switching From Once-Daily DPP-4 Inhibitor to Once-Weekly Regimen

BACKGROUND: We administered once-weekly dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor (W) (used omarigliptin as W in this study) to patients with type 2 diabetes taking once-daily DPP-4 inhibitor (D), and investigated efficacy, safety and patient satisfaction before and after switching to W. METHODS: W was administered to 182 patients with type 2 diabetes taking D (used sitagliptin as D in this study), who had been visiting our hospital on an outpatient basis; 164 (90.6%) of these patients requested to switch medications. Of these 164 patients, this study investigated 153 who requested to continue taking W. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, body weight, blood pressure and a questionnaire survey (Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ)) were evaluated in these patients. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were as follows: age, 63.9 ± 10.3; male/female ratio, 93:60; duration of diabetes, 14.9 ± 7.7 years; and body mass index (BMI), 25.5 ± 4.2 kg/m(2). After switching to W, HbA1c levels changed from 7.41 ± 0.7% to 7.36 ± 0.9%, which was not statistically significant. Changes in body weight, BMI, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also not significant. On the DTSQ, satisfaction of Q1 significantly increased (P < 0.01). The score for lifestyle assessment did not significantly change, but compliance significantly improved (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that 90% of patients taking D elected to switch to W. Moreover, patient satisfaction and compliance improved after switching to W. Increased satisfaction appeared to be influenced by improved blood glucose control, but was not associated with compliance. Switching from D to W did not affect HbA1c levels but improved patient adherence.