title: Rationale and design of the glycemia reduction approaches in diabetes: a comparative effectiveness study (GRADE).
abstract: The epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) threatens to become the major public health problem of this century. However, a comprehensive comparison of the long-term effects of medications to treat T2DM has not been conducted. GRADE, a pragmatic, unmasked clinical trial, aims to compare commonly used diabetes medications, when combined with metformin, on glycemia-lowering effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes.
  
  
  
  GRADE was designed with support from a U34 planning grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The consensus protocol was approved by NIDDK and the GRADE Research Group. Eligibility criteria for the 5,000 metformin-treated subjects include <5 years' diabetes duration, ≥ 30 years of age at time of diagnosis, and baseline hemoglobin A1c (A1C) of 6.8-8.5% (51-69 mmol/mol). Medications representing four classes (sulfonylureas, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, and insulin) will be randomly assigned and added to metformin (minimum-maximum 1,000-2,000 mg/day). The primary metabolic outcome is the time to primary failure defined as an A1C ≥ 7% (53 mmol/mol), subsequently confirmed, over an anticipated mean observation period of 4.8 years (range 4-7 years). Other long-term metabolic outcomes include the need for the addition of basal insulin after a confirmed A1C >7.5% (58 mmol/mol) and, ultimately, the need to implement an intensive basal/bolus insulin regimen. The four drugs will also be compared with respect to selected microvascular complications, cardiovascular disease risk factors, adverse effects, tolerability, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness.
  
  
  
  GRADE will compare the long-term effectiveness of major glycemia-lowering medications and provide guidance to clinicians about the most appropriate medications to treat T2DM. GRADE begins recruitment at 37 centers in the U.S. in 2013.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. heidi@bsc.gwu.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Buse
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krause-Steinrauf
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Myrlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staten
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wexler
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lachin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000819:agonists / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069450:Liraglutide; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D000069450:Liraglutide; D008687:Metformin; D011719:Pyrazines; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D014230:Triazoles; C057619:glimepiride