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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to describe real-world experiences following a non-medical switch among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the United States.
Methods: For this cross-sectional study, patients with T2DM (N = 451) provided data on demographics, and how a non-medical switch of their anti-hyperglycemic agent (AHA) affected their general health, HbA1c levels and medication management, via an Internet-based survey. Patients self-reported their level of satisfaction with the original medication and emotional reactions to the non-medical switch. Patients who recently experienced a non-medical switch of their AHA(s) (n = 379) were asked about the consequences of switching and their satisfaction with the switch (vs. the original) medication.
Results: Patients most frequently reported feeling very/extremely frustrated, surprised, upset and angry in reaction to a non-medical switch. Patients were somewhat satisfied with their original medication. Between 20% and 30% of patients reported the non-medical switch had a moderate/major effect on their general health, diabetes, mental well-being and control over their health. The blood glucose levels of recent switchers were somewhat/much worse (20.7%) and medication management was somewhat/much worse (12.9%) on the switch (vs. the original) medication. Some recent switchers reported old symptoms returning (7.7%) and experiencing new side-effects (14.2%).
Conclusions: Approximately one in five patients reported a moderate/major negative impact on their blood glucose level, diabetes, mental well-being, general health and control over their health following a non-medical switch. Findings suggest that a non-medical switch may have unintended negative health consequences and results in considerable burden across multiple domains for a sizeable minority of patients with T2DM.
Transparency
Declaration of funding
The study reported on in this manuscript was funded by Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, which approved the study concept and reviewed and approved the submitted manuscript.
Author contributions: All authors (N.M.F., C.A.P., B.K.B. and S.B.) jointly designed the research study. N.M.F. conducted data management and data analyses. All authors (N.M.F., C.A.P., B.K.B. and S.B.) participated in data interpretation, made substantial contributions to the development and critical revision of the manuscript, and approved the final version for publication.
Declaration of financial/other relationships
N.M.F. has disclosed that she was a full-time employee of Kantar Health during the time this research study was conducted. Kantar Health was provided funding from Janssen Scientific Affairs for conducting the study, study design, data collection, analyses and manuscript preparation. C.A.P., B.K.B. and S.B. have disclosed that they are employees of Janssen Scientific Affairs, which is part of Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, a company that markets and sells antihyperglycemic medication. B.K.B and S.B. are stockholders of Johnson & Johnson.
CMRO peer reviewers on this manuscript have received an honorarium from CMRO for their review work, but have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.
Acknowledgements
A portion of the results reported on in this manuscript were presented as a research poster at the 77th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, San Diego, CA, USA, 9–13 June 2017. The authors acknowledge the literature review and editing assistance of Melissa Winget PhD and Martine C. Maculaitis PhD on behalf of Kantar Health, with funding from Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC. The authors also wish to acknowledge the assistance of Susan Bolge PhD, from Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, on study design and data collection.