title: Comparison of clinical characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes among whom different antihyperglycemic agents were prescribed as monotherapy or combination therapy by diabetes specialists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared clinical characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes for whom different antihyperglycemic agents were prescribed as monotherapy or combination therapy by diabetes specialists in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prescription data for 2005, 2008 and 2011 from diabetes specialists' patient registries identified variables related to prescription of different antihyperglycemic agents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33,251 prescriptions in 2005, 25,119 in 2008 and 20,631 in 2011 were analyzed. Prescribing insulin was related to younger age, long duration of diabetes and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥8.0%, but was negatively associated with obesity. Prescribing sulfonylureas was related to older age and long duration of diabetes, but not to obesity. Use of biguanides was related to younger age, short duration of diabetes and obesity, but was negatively associated with HbA1c ≥8.0%. A short duration of diabetes and HbA1c ≥8.0% were associated with use of a DPP-4 inhibitor, but not with obesity. Prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonists was related to younger age, obesity and HbA1c ≥8.0%. Odds ratios for each antihyperglycemic combination therapy were determined based on the characteristics of each included antihyperglycemic agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results could be expected to reflect in part the consensus of diabetes specialists, and might provide guidance regarding pharmacotherapy in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: University of Tsukuba Mito Medical CenterTsukubaJapan; Niigata University Faculty of MedicineNiigataJapan.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.affiliation: Niigata University Faculty of Medicine Niigata Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hanyu
authors.affiliation: Niigata University Faculty of Medicine Niigata Japan.
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Heianza
authors.affiliation: Niigata University Faculty of Medicine Niigata Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Niigata University Faculty of Medicine Niigata Japan.
authors.forename: Takaho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Jiyugaoka Medical Clinic Hokkaido Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Kyoto University Hospital Kyoto Japan.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: University of Tsukuba Mito Medical Center Tsukuba Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yagyu
authors.affiliation: University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimano
authors.affiliation: Kusatsu General Hospital Shiga Japan.
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
authors.affiliation: Kawai Clinic Ibaraki Japan.
authors.forename: Katuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Kawai Clinic Ibaraki Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.affiliation: Niigata University Faculty of Medicine Niigata Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
keywords: Antihyperglycemic prescription; Combination therapy; Diabetes specialists