Predictors of early discontinuation of dapagliflozin versus other glucose-lowering medications: a retrospective multicenter real-world study

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation 2020-03, Vol.43 (3), p.329-336
• Main Authors: Fadini, G. P., Li Volsi, P., Devangelio, E., Poli, M., Cazzetta, G., Felace, G., Avogaro, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Benzhydryl Compounds - therapeutic use; Blood Glucose; Clinical medicine; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Endocrinology; Epidermal growth factor receptors; Female; Glucose; Glucosides - therapeutic use; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Insulin; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metformin; Middle Aged; Original Article; Retrospective Studies; Withholding Treatment
• ISSN: 1720-8386; 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/s40618-019-01110-w

Background and aims In routine clinical practice, early discontinuation of newly initiated glucose-lowering medications (GLM) is relatively common. We herein evaluated if the clinical characteristics associated with early discontinuation of dapagliflozin were different from those associated with early discontinuation of other GLM. Methods The DARWIN-T2D was a multicenter retrospective study conducted at diabetes specialist outpatient clinics in Italy. We included 2484 patients who were initiated on dapagliflozin in 2015–2016 and 14,801 patients who were initiated on other GLM (DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, or gliclazide) in the same period. After excluding patients who had not (yet) returned to follow-up, we compared the characteristics of patients who persisted on drug versus those who were no longer on drug at the first available follow-up after at least 3 months. Results As compared to those who persisted on drug, patients who discontinued dapagliflozin (51.7%) were more often female, had higher baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and eGFR, and less common use of metformin. Upon multiple regression, higher HbA1c, higher eGFR, and lower metformin use remained independently associated with early discontinuation. Among patients who had been initiated on other GLM, 41.7% discontinued. Variables independently associated with discontinuation were older age, longer diabetes duration, higher HbA1c, eGFR, and albumin excretion, more common use of insulin and less metformin. Conclusion In routine clinical practice, all variables associated with dapagliflozin discontinuation were also associated with discontinuation of other GLM. Thus, despite a distinctive mechanism of action and a peculiar tolerability profile, no specific predictor of dapagliflozin discontinuation was detected.