Achievement of HbA1c and weight targets in adults with type 2 diabetes on once weekly injectable glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist therapy in UK primary care: A retrospective, real‐world study

AimsEvaluate glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and weight changes after 6 months of once‐weekly (QW) injectable glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1 RA) therapy in UK primary care.Materials and MethodsRetrospective, non‐interventional study, using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum primary care database, identified adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) newly initiating a QW injectable GLP‐1 RA between January 2020 and November 2021. Dual primary outcomes were proportion of patients with (1) HbA1c < 7% (<53 mmol/mol) and (2) weight loss categories (from 0% to 15+%) after 6 months of continuous GLP‐1 RA therapy.ResultsThe study cohort comprised 10 816 adults: mean ± standard deviation age 58.8 ± 11.4 years, baseline HbA1c 9.3% ± 1.7% (78.1 ± 18.6 mmol/mol) and body mass index 36.6 ± 7.2 kg/m2. Of 5236 patients with data, 32.8% achieved HbA1c < 7% after 6 months; this proportion was higher for time since T2D diagnosis <5 years (34.1%) versus longer disease duration: ≥5–<10 years (28.0%), ≥10–<15 years (18.7%) and ≥15 years (19.3%). Of 3963 patients with weight data, 22.0% did not lose weight; 34.0%, 27.0%, 11.4% and 5.6% achieved weight reductions of >0%–<5%, ≥5%–<10%, ≥10%–<15% and ≥15%, respectively. No major differences in weight loss were observed by diabetes duration.ConclusionsTwo thirds of T2D patients receiving QW injectable GLP‐1 RA for 6 months did not attain target HbA1c < 7%, and less than half and one‐quarter of patients achieved ≥5% and ≥10% weight loss, respectively. Results suggest an unmet need for better clinical management of T2D in UK primary care.