title: Economic effect of augmentation strategies in patients with type 2 diabetes initiated on sulfonylureas.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the economic effect of adding either a thiazolidinedione (TZD) or metformin to the initial sulfonylurea therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Researchers identified patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who initiated therapy with a sulfonylurea during a four-year period from a Medicaid claims database. They then followed these patients after physicians added either a TZD or metformin to the regimen and assessed type 2 diabetes-related costs in the 12-month follow-up period. Multivariate results indicated that patients augmented with metformin incurred 33.3% lower total diabetes-related costs, compared with those augmented with a TZD (P < .001). The study results can aid in making formulary decisions and developing treatment algorithms for step-wise management of type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208-3485, USA. ikalseka@butler.edu
authors.forename: Iftekhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalsekar
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D008687:Metformin