Expected health benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists in older adults
Author(s)
Dadwani, Rahul S
Wan, Wen
Skandari, M Reza
Huang, Elbert S
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background. Older and sicker adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were underrepresented in randomized trials of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor-agonist (GLP1RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2I), and thus, health benefits are uncertain in this population. Objective. To assess the impact of age, health status, and life expectancy in older adults with T2D on health benefits of GLP1RA and SGLT2I. Design. We used the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) model to simulate lifetime health outcomes. We calibrated the UKPDS model to improve mortality prediction in older adults using a common geriatric prognostic index. Participants. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2018 participants 65 y and older with T2D, eligible for GLP1RA or SGLT2I according to American Diabetes Association guidelines. Interventions. GLP1RA or SGLT2I use versus no additional medication. Main Measures. Lifetime complications and weighted life-years (LYs) and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) across overall treatment arms and life expectancies. Key Results. The overall older adult population was predicted to experience significant health benefits from GLP1RA (+0.29 LY [95% confidence interval: 0.27, 0.31], +0.15 QALYs [0.14, 0.16]) and SGLT2I (+0.26 LY [0.24, 0.28], +0.13 QALYs [0.12, 0.14]) as compared with no added medication. However, expected benefits declined in subgroups with shorter life expectancies. Participants with <4 y of life expectancy had minimal gains of <0.05 LY and <0.03 QALYs from added medication. Accounting for injection-related disutility, GLP1RA use reduced QALYs (−0.03 QALYs [−0.04, −0.02]). Conclusions. While GLP1RA and SGLT2I have substantial health benefits for many older adults with type 2 diabetes, benefits are not clinically significant in patients with <4 y of life expectancy. Life expectancy and patient preferences are important considerations when prescribing newer diabetes medications.
Date Issued
2023-07
Date Acceptance
2023-06-06
Citation
MDM Policy & Practice, 2023, 8 (2), pp.1-11
ISSN
2381-4683
Publisher
SAGE Publishing
Start Page
1
End Page
11
Journal / Book Title
MDM Policy & Practice
Volume
8
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2023. This Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative CommonsAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use,reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE andOpen Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage)
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23814683231187566
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-07-20