Treatment discontinuation among users of GLP‑1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors in a national population of individuals with type 2 diabetes – published online 02/05/2025

Carl‑Emil Lim, Björn Pasternak, Björn Eliasson, Peter Ueda

Rates of treatment discontinuation in the large clinical trials of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors varied widely from 10% to 40%, and uncertainty remains regarding treatment discontinuation in routine clinical practice. In this issue, Lim et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-025-06439-x) present findings from a registry-based study including almost all individuals with type 2 diabetes in Sweden. Using nationwide pharmacy dispensation records, the authors found that approximately half of GLP‑1 receptor agonist or SGLT2 inhibitor initiators discontinued treatment within 5 years. However, more than half of those reinitiated treatment, such that the proportion of individuals with ongoing treatment was approximately 70–80% for both drugs during a 1–5 year period after initiation. The authors conclude by suggesting that the proportion of patients with long-term use of the medications is larger than indicated by analyses focusing solely on treatment discontinuation.

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