Physician perceptions of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the UK

Abstract

Objectives Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have been used to treat type 2 diabetes for almost a decade, and new treatments in this class have recently been introduced. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of GLP-1 receptor agonists among physicians who treat patients with type 2 diabetes in the UK.

Methods A total of 670 physicians (226 diabetes specialists; 444 general practice [GP] physicians) completed a survey in 2014.

Results Almost all physicians had prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists (95.4% total sample; 99.1% specialists; 93.5% GP), most frequently to patients whose glucose levels are not adequately controlled with oral medications (85.9% of physicians) and obese/overweight patients (83.7%). Physicians’ most common reasons for prescribing a GLP-1 receptor agonist were: associated with weight loss (65.8%), good efficacy (55.7%), less hypoglycemia risk than insulin (55.2%), not associated with weight gain (34.5%), and better efficacy than oral medications (32.7%). Factors that most commonly cause hesitation when prescribing this class were: not considered first line therapy according to guidelines (56.9%), injectable administration (44.6%), cost (36.7%), gastrointestinal side effects (33.4%), and risk of pancreatitis (26.7%). Almost all specialists (99.1%) believed they had sufficient knowledge to prescribe a GLP-1 receptor agonist, compared with 76.1% of GPs.

Conclusions Results highlight the widespread use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for treatment of type 2 diabetes in the UK. However, almost a quarter of GPs reported that they do not have enough knowledge to prescribe GLP-1s, suggesting a need for increased dissemination of information to targeted groups of physicians. Study limitations were that the generalizability of the clinician sample is unknown; survey questions required clinicians to select answers from multiple response options rather than generating the responses themselves; and responses to this survey conducted in 2014 do not reflect perceptions of the most recently introduced GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Keywords:

• GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Inertia
• Physician perceptions
• Practice patterns
• Type 2 diabetes

Declaration of funding

The study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company (Indianapolis, IN, USA).

Declaration of financial/other relationships

S.C., O.A., S.A.M., and K.S.B. have disclosed that they are employed by the sponsor. L.S.M. and J.J. have disclosed that they are employed by Evidera, a company that received support from Eli Lilly and Company for time spent conducting this study.

CMRO peer reviewers have received an honorarium from CMRO for their review work, but have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Katie D. Stewart for assistance with manuscript review; Christine Thompson for assistance with data analysis; and Amara Tiebout for production assistance.

Previous presentation: Curtis S, Jordan J, Boye KS, et al. Physician-reported use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the UK (1158-P). Poster presented at: American Diabetes Association's 75th Scientific Sessions, Boston, MA, USA, 5–9 June 2015.