Why carry out this study?

Medication persistence and adherence can confer a treatment benefit in type 2 diabetes (T2D), whereas poor persistence and adherence are linked to long-term complications, hospitalization and mortality.

The aim of this retrospective, observational study was to investigate persistence and adherence in patients with T2D initiating treatment with once-weekly or daily injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) using US administrative claims data.

What was learned from the study?

In US clinical practice, persistence with and adherence to once-weekly GLP-1 RAs were significantly greater compared with those of daily GLP-1RAs.

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reductions were greater with once-weekly vs daily injectable treatments at both 6 and 12 months after initiation; for both treatment regimens, better adherence was associated with greater improvements in HbA1c.

Our study suggests that persistence and adherence, which are typically considered to be linked to patient convenience, also have clear clinical benefits.