A 5-year trend in the use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and other oral antidiabetic drugs in a Middle Eastern country

Background Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are a novel class of oral antidiabetic drugs. To date, there are no pharmacoepidemiologic studies investigating the pattern of use of SGLT2is compared to other oral antidiabetic drugs in the Middle East, including Qatar. Aim This study aimed to explore the trends in the use of SGLT2is compared to other oral antidiabetic drugs in Qatar from 2016 to 2020. Method This is a descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study where information on all oral antidiabetic drugs dispensed as in- or out-patient prescriptions from 2016 to 2020 in Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals, Qatar were collected. Outcomes included the number and relative frequency of quarterly prescriptions of different oral antidiabetic drug classes [biguanides, sulfonylureas, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and SGLT2is] prescribed from 2016 to 2020. Results SGLT2is prescriptions increased from 1045 (2.13%) in 2017 to 8375 (12.39%) in 2020, while sulfonylureas prescriptions declined from 10,436 (21.25%) to 9158 (13.55%) during the same period. Metformin use decreased from 23,926 (48.71%) in 2017 to 30,886 (45.70%) in 2020. The proportions of thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors prescriptions remained stable over the years. Among SGLT2is, empagliflozin prescriptions showed an increase from 537 (10.65%) to 2881 (34.40%) compared to dapagliflozin, which decreased by the end of 2018 from 4505 (89.35%) to 5494 (65.6%). Conclusion SGLT2is have largely replaced sulfonylureas in Qatar. The increasing trend in their use over the years is similar to that reported in other countries. The trend among SGLT2is suggests greater preference for empagliflozin over dapagliflozin.

Automated summary

This study investigated the utilization trends of SGLT2is compared to other oral antidiabetic drugs in Qatar from 2016 to 2020. The results showed an increasing trend in SGLT2is prescriptions and a decline in sulfonylureas prescriptions. The use of metformin also decreased over the years. Among SGLT2is, there was a preference for empagliflozin over dapagliflozin.