A Retrospective Medication Use Evaluation of Pioglitazone in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a County Health Care System

Background: Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione oral second-line antihyperglycemic agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes but was the highest expenditure within restricted drugs in this county health care system.Objective: A medication use evaluation of pioglitazone was conducted to determine if usage was according to guideline as well as evaluate intermediate clinical outcomes.Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a convenience sample of 199 patients who were prescribed pioglitazone therapy over a 6-month period. The following data were collected: demographics, indication, dosing, concurrent diabetes medications, pre- and post-glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), liver function tests, lipid profiles, and adverse drug events. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and chi-square test.Results: The final analysis included 199 patients of which 194 (97%) had documented prespecified guideline criterion for pioglitazone use. The average patient’s age was 55 (st...