Delayed initiation of subcutaneous insulin therapy after failure of oral glucose-lowering agents in patients with Type 2 diabetes: a population-based analysis in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to estimate the time to insulin initiation in patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral glucose-lowering agents (OGLAs).


METHODS
Insulin-naïve patients failing on OGLAs were identified from The Health Improvement Network database, which collects records from general practices throughout the UK. Patients were included if they were aged > or = 40 years, had concomitant prescriptions for > or = 2 OGLAs, and > or = 1 year of available records prior to the first occurrence of HbA(1c) > or = 8.0% after > or = 90 days of OGLA polytherapy at > or = 50% of maximum recommended dosages.


RESULTS
A total of 2501 eligible patients with Type 2 diabetes who had an HbA(1c) above the OGLA failure threshold of > or = 8.0% were identified (54.0% male; 30.9% aged 60-69 years). It was estimated that if all the eligible patients were followed for 5 years, 25% would initiate insulin within 1.8 years of OGLA failure (95% CI 1.6-2.0), and 50% within 4.9 years (95% CI 4.6-5.8). The presence of diabetes-related complications had no substantial impact on the time to insulin initiation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found that 25% of patients with Type 2 diabetes had insulin initiation delayed for at least 1.8 years, and 50% of patients delayed starting insulin for almost 5 years after failure of glycaemic control with OGLA polytherapy, even in the presence of diabetes-related complications. Interventions that reduce this delay to insulin initiation are required to help achieve and maintain recommended glycaemic targets in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
RTI Heath Solutions, Manchester, UK.
A
A
Rubino
L J
LJ
McQuay
S C
SC
Gough
M
M
Kvasz
P
P
Tennis
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D006113:United Kingdom
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin