Key clinical point: Treatment intensification with quadruple therapy showed similar glucose lowering efficacy as once weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA)-based triple therapy in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, low C-peptide levels reduced the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1RA therapy but not quadruple therapy.
Major finding: At 24 weeks, both quadruple and GLP-1RA-based triple therapies significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin level (both therapies: mean reduction −1.1%; P < .001); however, the glucose-lowering effects of GLP-1RA vs quadruple therapy were weaker in patients with low C-peptide levels (mean −0.1% vs −1.3%; P = .04).
Study details: Findings are from a real-world study including 96 patients with poorly controlled T2D refractory to triple oral therapy who underwent treatment intensification with quadruple oral therapy (n = 50) or once-weekly GLP-1RA-based triple therapy (n = 46).
Disclosures: The study received no specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Kim M et al. the efficacy of treatment intensification by quadruple oral therapy compared to GLP-1RA therapy in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A real-world data study. Diabetes Metab J. 2022 (Apr 29). Doi: 10.4093/dmj.2021.0373