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The following is a summary of “Investigating socioeconomic disparities in prescribing new diabetes medications in individuals with type 2 diabetes and very high cardiovascular risk in the Netherlands,” published in the April 2025 issue of Primary Care Diabetes by Ardesch et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to analyze prescription patterns of new diabetes medications and assess socioeconomic disparities in their initiation among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and very high cardiovascular risk.  

They identified 10,768 individuals diagnosed with T2DM and very high cardiovascular risk using general practitioner’s electronic health record data. Prescription patterns of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) were analyzed. Additionally, the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prescription of SGLT-2is and GLP-1RAs in 2022 was examined.  

The results showed that despite increased prescription rates of SGLT-2is and GLP-1RAs from 2019 to 2022, approximately 85% and 93% of eligible individuals did not receive SGLT-2is and GLP-1RAs in 2022, respectively. A positive association was observed between SGLT-2is prescription and SES in the 4th quintile compared to the 1st quintile (referent) in the fully adjusted model (odds ratio [OR] 1.29; 95% CI 1.08–1.54).  

Investigators concluded that prescription rates among eligible individuals indicated significant room for improvement in aligning prescribing practices with guidelines, with no profound socioeconomic gradient in the initiation of SGLT-2is and GLP-1RAs, likely due to clear guideline indications and GP education. 

Source: primary-care-diabetes.com/article/S1751-9918(24)00246-8/fulltext