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Use of exenatide and liraglutide in Denmark: a drug utilization study

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to characterise the utilization of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues exenatide and liraglutide in Denmark.

Methods

From the Danish National Prescription Registry, we extracted all prescriptions for either liraglutide or exenatide twice-daily in the period 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2012. Using descriptive statistics, we calculated incidence rates, prevalence proportions, daily consumption, and concomitant drug use. For a subset of users we included data from other registries and characterised the baseline characteristics of incident users of GLP-1 analogues.

Results

We identified 21,561 and 2,354 users of liraglutide and exenatide respectively. From market entry in 2009 liraglutide showed an increasing prevalence reaching 2.4 per thousand inhabitants in 2012. Exenatide ranged between 0.01 and 0.25 per thousand inhabitants from 2007 to 2012. Treatment intensity showed geographical variation ranging from 1.84per thousand inhabitants to 3.22 per thousand inhabitants for liraglutide. Average doses were 1.34 mg/day (liraglutide) and 16.4 μg/day (exenatide). Treatment initiation was most often performed by a hospital physician and was not associated with any changes in concomitant treatment with antihypertensives, cholesterol-lowering drugs or anticoagulants. Of liraglutide and exenatide users, 38 % and 43 % also used insulin. Low kidney function (eGFR < 30 ml/min) was found in 10.1 % and 9.0 % of users of liraglutide and exenatide respectively.

Conclusions

The preferred GLP-1 analogue in Denmark is liraglutide. Certain aspects of the utilization of GLP-1 analogues, such as large regional differences and concomitant use of GLP-1 analogues and insulin, warrant further investigation.

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Conflicts of interest

FKK has received lecture fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd, Novo Nordisk, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi and Zealand Pharma, is an advisory board member at Eli Lilly Danmark, Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Zealand Pharma, and has consulted for AstraZeneca, Gilead Sciences, Ono Pharmaceuticals and Zealand Pharma. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southern Denmark, JB Winsløwsvej 19, 2, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Anton Pottegård, Michael Due Larsen, Kasper Søltoft Larsen & Jesper Hallas

  2. Data Deliveries and Medicinal Products Statistics, Sector for National Health Surveillance and Research, Statens Serum Institut, 2300, København S, Denmark

    Bine Kjøller Bjerregaard

  3. Diabetes Research Division, Department of Medicine, Gentofte Hospital, 2900, Hellerup, Denmark

    Filip K. Knop

  4. Institute for Rational Pharmacotherapy, Danish Health and Medicines Authority, 2300, København S, Denmark

    Søren Ilsøe Moreno

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  1. Anton Pottegård
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Correspondence to Anton Pottegård.

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Pottegård, A., Bjerregaard, B.K., Larsen, M.D. et al. Use of exenatide and liraglutide in Denmark: a drug utilization study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 70, 205–214 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-013-1595-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-013-1595-4

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