Real-world use and effectiveness of tirzepatide among people without evidence of type 2 diabetes in the United States

Aim

To understand treatment patterns and effectiveness of tirzepatide among people without type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the US.

Methods

This retrospective, observational, descriptive study used the Healthcare Integrated Research Database (index date: first-observed tirzepatide claim; index period: May 13, 2022–May 24, 2023). Key eligibility criteria were: age ≥ 18 years; ≥ 1 tirzepatide claim; no T2D diagnosis codes or glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5 %, no anti-diabetes medications (except metformin); and continuous medical/pharmacy enrollment for ≥ 12 months pre-index (Overall cohort). Tirzepatide persistence and utilization (6-months post-index) were assessed among obesity management medication (OMM)-eligible individuals (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m², or ≥ 27 kg/m² with ≥ 1 obesity-related complication [ORC]; OMM-eligible cohort). Tirzepatide effectiveness was assessed among individuals who were OMM-eligible, naive to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and persistent on tirzepatide for ≥6 months (Persistent+GLP-1 naive cohort).

Results

The overall cohort included 4,177 individuals with mean age 46.0 years, 75.6 % female, and mean BMI 37.1 kg/m². At baseline, 73.8 % of individuals had ≥ 1 ORC while 51.0 % had ≥ 2 ORCs. Persistence in the OMM-eligible cohort was 73.8 %; by the sixth prescription fill, 56.2 % were receiving < 10 mg tirzepatide. Individuals in the Persistent+GLP-1 naive cohort with pre- and post-index weight and BMI measurements (n = 200) achieved mean weight reduction of 12.9 % at 6-months post-index (≥ 5 %: 88.5 %; ≥ 10 %: 69.0 %).

Conclusion

Real-world evidence suggests multimorbidity among tirzepatide initiators, slower tirzepatide dose escalation than in clinical trials, and clinically meaningful weight reduction among people persisting on tirzepatide for ≥ 6 months.