Monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of using high-value diabetes medications in Lerdsin Hospital

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the chronic non-communicable diseases associated with a high rate of premature death due to complications. The Ministry of Public Health's forecast report indicates that by 2040, there will be as many as 5.3 million patients. Currently, there are drugs in the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) groups used to treat diabetes and prevent cardiovascular complications. These drugs play an increasingly important role and are categorized as non-essential drugs with high value. This study is a retrospective descriptive study aimed at evaluating the appropriateness of prescribing SGLT2i and DPP-4i drugs and their effectiveness in reducing average glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels in patients receiving services at Lerdsin Hospital from October 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023. The study involved 126 patients. Basic information and an appropriateness assessment of SGLT2i and DPP-4i drug use were collected by endocrinologists. The study results showed that the appropriateness of prescribing combination regimens of SGLT2i and DPP-4i, SGLT2i alone, and DPP-4i alone were 62.50%, 92.96%, and 74.36%, respectively. The overall appropriateness for both single and combination regimens was 83.34%. The effectiveness of the two drug groups in reducing HbA1C was found to be a reduction of 0.58% after the initial drug administration. The results align with clinical research conducted both domestically and internationally.