Annual trends in glycemic control and prescribing patterns in diabetic treatment according to age in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes between 2012 and 2019 (JDDM 71)

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate changes in glycemic control and diabetes treatment by age group in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The study included the results of approximately 40,000 patients/year using cross-sectional and retrospective analyses from 2012 to 2019.

Results: There was little change in the glycemic control status in all age groups during the study period. However, by age group, patients aged ≤ 44 years continued to have the highest glycated hemoglobinA1c (HbA1c) values during the study period (7.4 % ± 1.7 % in 2012 and 7.4 % ± 1.5 % in 2019), especially in insulin-treated patients (8.3 % ± 1.9 % in 2012 and 8.4 % ± 1.8 % in 2019). Biguanides and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors were widely prescribed. Sulfonylurea and insulin use showed a decreasing trend, but older patients had a higher percentage of prescriptions. Sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitors were prescribed rapidly, especially in younger patients.

Conclusions: There were no obvious changes in glycemic control over time in the study period. The mean HbA1c level was higher in younger patients, which suggested that improvement is required. In older patients, there was a trend toward greater emphasis on management to avoid hypoglycemia. Different treatment strategies based on age showed different drug choices.

Keywords: Age; Diabetic medication; Glycemic control; Type 2 diabetes.