Polypharmacy with oral antidiabetic agents: an indicator of poor glycemic control.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate antidiabetic drug treatment patterns and glycemic control among patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Retrospective study using the automated databases of a 200 000-member HMO.


METHODS
The study population consisted of patients > or =18 years of age with documented type 2 diabetes mellitus from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002. We determined the proportion of patients who had optimal glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin <7%) during the 6 months after the initial documentation of diabetes during calendar year 2002 (index date).


RESULTS
Of the 4282 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 1050 (25%) received 1 oral agent, 486 (11%) received 2 oral agents, 56 (1%) received > or =3 oral agents, 84 (2%) received insulin and an oral agent, and 107 (2%) received insulin exclusively within 90 days after the index date. Among the 1075 patients receiving antidiabetic drug therapy who had a laboratory test result documented, 414 (39%) had optimal glycemic control. Optimal control was most frequent among patients receiving 1 oral agent (47%) and least frequent among patients receiving > or =3 oral agents (13%) (P <.01). Patients with a prior history of suboptimal glycemic control were less likely to have optimal glycemic control.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple oral antidiabetic agents may serve as a marker for more severe, uncontrolled diabetes. The vast majority of patients treated with multiple oral antidiabetic agents had suboptimal glycemic control, suggesting a need for intensified efforts to treat this particular group of patients to recommended goal levels.
Willey
Cynthia J
CJ
Meyers Primary Care Institute, 630 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Andrade
Susan E
SE
Cohen
Joseph
J
Fuller
Jackie C
JC
Gurwitz
Jerry H
JH
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents