Type 2 Diabetes: Real-World Evidence Shows Dapagliflozin Lowers BMI, Systolic Blood Pressure

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Statistics coming from controlled trials can be challenging to apply to the real-world. But a new study assessing the use of dapagliflozin for type 2 diabetes in real clinical use yielded important insight.

endocrinology, diabetes, type 2 diabetes, HbA1c, weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure, obesity, pharmacy, dapagliflozin, American Diabetes Association, ADA 2016

Statistics coming from controlled trials can be challenging to apply to the real-world. But a new study assessing the use of dapagliflozin (Farxiga) for type 2 diabetes in real clinical use yielded important insight.

Researchers from the United Kingdom conducted the study to evaluate the effects of dapagliflozin on HbA1c, weight, body mass index (BMI), and systolic blood pressure. Their findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2016) 76^th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana.

From October 2014 to December 2015, the team followed 1,725 patients with type 2 diabetes on the medication. The cohort was made up of 56.5% males and mean age of 57.3, weight of about 233 pounds, BMI of 37 kg/m², and HbA1c of 9.5. The average patient was diagnosed with diabetes nearly 10 years prior.

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The goal of the study was to evaluate the metabolic response to dapaglifozin.

“Those with baseline, 1^st and 2^nd return HbA1c (n=317) within a median (interquartile range) of 48.0 (39.0-61.0) were included in this analysis,” the authors explained. At baseline, patients were taking other medications including:

Metformin (80.4%)
Sulphonylurea (29%)
Insulin (26.1% - including 12.3% basal bolus, 11% basal insulin, and 2.8% insulin mixtures)
GLP-1 receptor analogues (25.5%)
DPP-4 inhibitors (12.4%)
Pioglitazone (5.9%)
Other agents (1.5%)

The average first follow-up was 22 weeks into the study. HbA1c decreased from 9.5 to 8.62, weight decreased from about 233 pounds to 226 pounds, BMI decreased from 37 kg/m² to 36 kg/m², and systolic blood pressure decreased from 137.83 mmHg to 134.05 mmHg.

“By first return visit dapagliflozin reduced HbA1c, weight, BMI, and systolic blood pressure by clinically and statistically significant amounts and these improvements were sustained through to the second follow-up visit and indeed they increased, though not by statistically significant amounts,” the team concluded.

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