Characteristics and Dosing Patterns of Tirzepatide Users with Type 2 Diabetes in the United States

📖 Top 20% JournalJan 10, 2025Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders

User traits and dosing habits of tirzepatide in US adults with type 2 diabetes

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Abstract

The study included 15,665 patients with type 2 diabetes initiating .

The mean age of patients was 53.2 years, with 58.5% being women and 76.7% non-Hispanic white.
Common comorbidities during the 6-month baseline period included hypertension (69.2%), dyslipidemia (69.2%), and overweight/obesity (58.4%).
Over half of the patients (51.2%) had prior use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists before starting tirzepatide.
The mean glycated hemoglobin () was 7.6%, with 58.4% of patients having HbA1c levels ≥7%.
During the follow-up, 69.6% of patients experienced at least one dose escalation, while 17.2% had at least one dose de-escalation.
Tirzepatide adherence (57.5%) and persistence (73.3%) were observed at 6 months, with 29.1% of patients re-initiating treatment after discontinuation.

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INTRODUCTION: The study objective was to describe characteristics and utilization patterns of users with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using the Healthcare Integrated Research Database in the USA.

METHODS: Adults (≥18 years) included had T2D diagnosis; ≥1 tirzepatide claim (May 2022-January 2023; first claim date = index date); and continuous medical and pharmacy enrollment during the 6-month baseline and follow-up periods from the index date. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and 6-month follow-up dosing and treatment patterns were summarized descriptively.

RESULTS: The study included 15,665 patients with T2D initiating tirzepatide (mean age: 53.2 years; 58.5% women; 76.7% non-Hispanic white). During the 6-month baseline period, hypertension (69.2%), dyslipidemia (69.2%), overweight/obesity (58.4%), and obstructive sleep apnea (22.8%) were commonly reported comorbidities. Over half of the patients (51.2%) had used glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) before initiating tirzepatide. The mean glycated hemoglobin () was 7.6% (n = 5175), and 58.4% of these patients had HbA1c ≥7%. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 38.7 kg/m(n = 3459), and 87.8% of these patients either had Class 1, 2, or 3 obesity. Among patients with a single prescription on each fill date (N = 14,986), 84.1% initiated tirzepatide at ≤5 mg dose. During sixth prescription refill (n = 7304), 56.5% were receiving tirzepatide doses of <10 mg. During the 6-month follow-up period, 69.6% of patients had ≥1 dose escalation and 17.2% had ≥1 dose de-escalation. The mean time to first dose escalation was 59.1 days and first dose de-escalation was 104.8 days. Tirzepatide adherence (proportion of days covered [PDC] ≥80%) was 57.5% and persistence (45-day gap) was 73.3% at 6 months. Of patients who discontinued tirzepatide (n = 4177; 26.7%), 29.1% re-initiated tirzepatide (45-day gap). 2

CONCLUSION: Patients with T2D initiating tirzepatide had multimorbidity; uncontrolled diabetes; and mean BMI was consistent with Class 2 obesity. Patients showed favorable tirzepatide adherence and persistence profiles, and the majority remained at <10 mg doses during the 6-month follow-up period.

Key numbers

53.2 years

Mean Age of Patients

Average age of patients initiating .

3022 of 5175

Patients with Uncontrolled Diabetes

Proportion of patients with ≥7% at baseline.

57.5%

Adherence Rate

Percentage of patients with proportion of days covered ≥80% at 6 months.

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Abstract

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