Patterns of metformin use and glycated haemoglobin trends among patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in Alberta, Canada.

Aim: Canadian guidelines recommend metformin as first-line therapy for incident uncomplicated type 2 diabetes and the vast majority of patients are treated accordingly. However, only 54% 65% remain on treatment after 1 year, with the highest discontinuation rates within the first 3 months. The purpose of this study was: (a) to identify individual and clinical factors associated with metformin discontinuation among patients with newly diagnosed uncomplicated type 2 diabetes in Alberta, Canada, and (b) describe glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) trajectories in the first 12 months after initiation of pharmacotherapy, stratified by metformin usage pattern.

Patterns and Patients' Characteristics Associated With Use of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Objectives: Our aim in this study was to describe patterns and patient-level factors associated with use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) among adults with diabetes being treated in Alberta, Canada.

Methods: Using linked administrative data sets from 2014 to 2019, we defined a retrospective cohort of adults with prevalent or incident type 2 diabetes with indications for SGLT2i use and who did not have advanced kidney disease (glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min per 1.73 m) or previous amputation.

Accounting for concurrent antihyperglycemic medication changes in dietary and physical activity interventions: A focused literature review.

Aims: To summarize methods used to account for antihyperglycemic medication changes in randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of dietary and physical activity interventions on glycemia among adults with diabetes.

Methods: Using studies included in two recently published systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials examining the glycemic effects of dietary and physical activity interventions, we evaluated how each study accounted for antihyperglycemic medication changes. Data were analyzed using summary statistics, stratified by the type of intervention studied, and each was assigned a score from 0 to 6 reflecting the strength of medication controls employed.

First-line pharmacotherapy for incident type 2 diabetes: Prescription patterns, adherence and associated costs.

Aims: To use real-world prescription data from Alberta, Canada to: (a) describe the prescribing patterns for initial pharmacotherapy for those with newly diagnosed uncomplicated type 2 diabetes; (b) describe medication-taking behaviours (adherence and persistence) in the first year after initiating pharmacotherapy; and (c) explore healthcare system costs associated with prescribing patterns.

Methods: We employed a retrospective cohort design using linked administrative datasets from 2012 to 2017 to define a cohort of those with uncomplicated incident diabetes. We summarized the initial prescription patterns, adherence and costs (healthcare and pharmaceutical) over the first year after initiation of pharmacotherapy.