Downstream Treatment Burden and Health‐Care Utilization Following Initiation of GLP ‐1 Receptor Agonists or SGLT2 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes

Approximately 164,000 patients were analyzed to compare treatment burdens following the initiation of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors.

• Patients initiating GLP-1 receptor agonists had a higher frequency of downstream medication use across seven classes compared to those starting SGLT2 inhibitors.
• The most notable increase was in the initiation of antidepressants, with an absolute risk difference of 3.38%.
• GLP-1 initiators also more frequently began using antiemetics, sedatives/hypnotics, proton pump inhibitors, laxatives, histamine-2 receptor antagonists, and antidiarrheals, although these differences were less pronounced.
• Secondary diagnoses showed minor variations, with gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophagitis more common among GLP-1 initiators, while SGLT2 initiators had higher instances of peptic ulcer disease and endoscopic procedures.
• Nutrient deficiencies and unspecified anemia were reported more frequently in patients receiving GLP-1 therapy.
• Overall health-care utilization was comparable between the two groups, except for increased inpatient acute care noted among SGLT2 initiators.

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