Adherence to NICE guidance on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an evaluation using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

AbstractAims:To assess adherence to the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for initiating and continuing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Research design and methods:A retrospective cohort study of 7133 primary care patients ≥40 years with a first prescription for a GLP-1 receptor agonist following publication of NICE guideline/guidance. Patient characteristics and levels of clinical monitoring were assessed using descriptive analyses.Main outcome measures:Main outcomes were the proportion of patients initiating GLP-1 receptor agonists as part of NICE-recommended dual- or triple-therapy regimens; the proportions meeting NICE triple therapy initiation criteria (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥7.5% and body mass index [BMI] ≥35 kg/m2) and the proportions continuing GLP-1 receptor agonist at 6 months according to NICE recommendations.Results:Mean age at initiating GLP-1 receptor agonists was 58.2 years (SD 9.4), B...