Prevalence, treatment patterns, burden, and factors related to treatment failure with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor in adults with type 2 diabetes in the United States
Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome, 2025
Aims
To evaluate treatment failure of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and assess associated risk factors and clinical and economic outcomes in the real-world setting.
Methods
Adults with T2D who initiated SGLT2i were selected from the Komodo's Healthcare Map, an administrative claims database (2016-2024). Treatment failure was defined as discontinuation, add-on/switching, or uncontrolled glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) without action. Risk factors, treatment patterns, and clinical and economic burden were assessed.
Results
Among 237,295 eligible adults, the overall rate of treatment failure with SGLT2i was 77.3 %, with a median time to failure of 9.14 months. Rates of discontinuation, add-on/switching, and uncontrolled HbA1c without action were 39.3 %, 32.3 %, and 5.8 %, respectively. Risk factors for treatment failure with SGLT2i included cardiorenal comorbidities and SGLT2i-related adverse events. The proportion of adults using glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists almost tripled after treatment failure with SGLT2i. The failure group experienced high rates of diabetes complications, resource use, and costs.
Conclusions
Treatment failure is prevalent among adults with T2D who initiated SGLT2i and is associated with substantial clinical and economic burden. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing SGLT2i treatment through early combination therapies and other strategies.
Authors
Tan X, Cao Y, Wang Y, Boland J, Guevarra M, Xie L, Song Y, Kwak MJ