title: Early drug use of dapagliflozin prescribed by general practitioners and diabetologists in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dapagliflozin is an inhibitor of the human sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) that has been shown to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and treatment patterns of dapagliflozin users in comparison to users of other anti-diabetic (AD) treatments in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from patients with T2DM initiating at least one prescription for dapagliflozin or other AD therapy between November 2012 and April 2014 were collected from the IMS German Disease Analyzer database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of dapagliflozin combination therapy (n=1034; 74%) was more common than monotherapy (n=371; 26%). In comparison with other AD therapy users, a higher percentage of dapagliflozin users were ⩽64years of age (62.3% vs. 36.4%), and a higher proportion were male (59.1% vs. 53.6%). The average duration of diabetes was comparable between dapagliflozin patients and other AD therapy users (5.7yearsvs. 5.5years), however higher levels of HbA1c were found in dapagliflozin users (8.2% (66mmol/mol) vs. 7.5% (58mmol/mol). For the vast majority (71.5% of 10mg dapagliflozin users and 88.9% of 5mg users), dapagliflozin was prescribed in combination with other AD therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients starting on dapagliflozin differed in several demographic and health-related respects to patients starting another AD therapy during the same period. Dapagliflozin was predominantly used as a component of combination therapy, adding on to existing therapy. After initiation, switching to other AD treatments or adding to therapy was comparatively rare during the first year.
authors.affiliation: Real World Evidence Solutions, QuintilesIMS, London, UK; Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College, London. Electronic address: MHankins@uk.imshealth.com.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hankins
authors.affiliation: Medical Evidence & Observational Research, Global Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Real World Evidence Solutions, QuintilesIMS, London, UK; Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Medical Evidence & Observational Research, Global Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden; Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Niklas.Hammar@astrazeneca.com.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hammar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D005858:Germany; D005960:Glucosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D005960:Glucosides; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C529054:dapagliflozin
keywords: Anti-diabetic; Dapagliflozin; Diabetes