Use and continuity of weight‐modifying medications among adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity: US population study

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTrends in use and continuity of use of diabetes‐specific and non‐diabetes weight‐reducing (WR), weight‐inducing (WI), and weight‐neutral (WN) medications were examined among US adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity.MethodsSerial cross‐sectional data from Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (2010–2019) for adults (≥18 years) with diabetes and BMI ≥27 kg/m2 (≥25 kg/m2 for Asians) were analyzed.ResultsAmong 7402 US adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity (mean age 60.0 years [SD 13], 50% female), 64.9% of participants used any WI medications, decreasing from 68.9% (95% CI: 64.3%–73.5%) in 2010 to 58.6% (95% CI: 54.7%–62.5%) in 2019. It was estimated that 13.5% used WR medications, increasing 3.31‐fold, from 6.4% (95% CI: 4.1%–8.7%) to 21.2% (95% CI: 18.0%–24.4%) and that 73.1% used WN medications, ranging from 70.5% (95% CI: 66.5–74.6) to 75.0% (95% CI: 71.7%–78.4%). Among adults using diabetes‐specific WI (53.7%), WR (7.1%), and WN (62.4%) medications during the first year, 7.3%, 16.4%, and 9.0% discontinued it in the second year, respectively.ConclusionsOver 2010–2019, 64.9% of adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity were treated with WI medications, 13.5% with WR medications, and 73.1% with WN medications. Discontinuation of WR medications was nearly twice that of WI medications.