Korean J Clin Pharm.  2022 Mar;32(1):13-19. 10.24304/kjcp.2022.32.1.13.

Use of SGLT2 inhibitor/metformin fixed dose combination in Korea

• Choi HE
• Lee JW
• Je NK
• Jeong KH

• KMID: 2527746
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24304/kjcp.2022.32.1.13

Abstract

Background
The use of combination therapy and fixed-dose combination therapy is increasing for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) is a drug class used in combination with metformin.
Methods
Type 2 diabetes patients on SGLT2i/metformin combination therapy were extracted from the 2019 Health Insurance Review & Assessment ServiceNational Patients Sample. On July 1, 2019, SGLT2i and metformin fixed-dose combination (SGLT2i/metformin FDC) and two-pill combination (TPC) groups were identified, and a chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were performed.
Results
Of total 2,992 patients, 1,077 (36%) were prescribed SGLT2i/metformin FDC and 1,915 (64%) were prescribed TPC. We found that the most common comorbidities were in the order of dyslipidemia, gastrointestinal disease, and hypertension. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the use of SGLT2i/metformin FDC was lower than TPC in patients with diabetic neuropathy (OR=0.76, p=0.008). Clinic (OR=2.09, p<0.001) and general hospital (OR=1.40, p=0.019) showed higher tendency to prescribe SGLT2i/metformin FDC compared to tertiary hospital. The tendency of prescribing SGLT2i/metformin FDC was lower in Kyeonggi (OR=0.79, p=0.037), Gyeongsang (OR=0.77, p=0.025) and Chungcheong (OR=0.68, p=0.007) than Seoul.
Conclusion
Factors related to the use of SGLT2i/metformin FDC in patients with type 2 diabetes were complication, medical institution and region. The tendency to prescribe SGLT2i/metformin FDC was relatively higher in clinics than in tertiary general hospitals and in Seoul than in other regions.

Keyword

Type 2 diabetes; sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor; SGLT2i/metformin fixed-dose combination; two-pill combination