Comparative effectiveness of dulaglutide versus liraglutide in Asian type 2 diabetes patients: a multi-institutional cohort study and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Head-to-head comparison of clinical effectiveness between dulaglutide and liraglutide in Asia is limited. This study was aimed to assess the real-world comparative effectiveness of dulaglutide versus liraglutide. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study by utilizing multi-institutional electronic medical records to identify real-world type 2 diabetes patients treated with dulaglutide or liraglutide during 2016-2018 in Taiwan and followed up until 2019. Effectiveness outcomes were assessed at every three months in the one-year follow-up. Propensity score techniques were applied to enhance between-group comparability. Significant differences in changes of effectiveness outcomes between treatment groups during the follow-up were examined and further analyzed using mixed-model repeated-measures approaches. Results A total of 1,512 subjects receiving dulaglutide and 1,513 subjects receiving liraglutide were identified. At 12 months, significant HbA1c changes from baseline were found in both treatments (dulaglutide: -1.06%, p<0.001; liraglutide: -0.83%, p<0.001), with a significant between-group difference (-0.23%, 95% confidence interval: -0.38 to -0.08%, p<0.01). Both treatments yielded significant declines in weight, alanine aminotransferase level, and estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline (dulaglutide: -1.14 kg, -3.08 U/L and -2.08 ml/min/1.73 m2, p<0.01; liraglutide: -1.64 kg, -3.65 U/L and -2.33 ml/min/1.73 m2, p<0.001), whereas only dulaglutide yielded a significant systolic blood pressure reduction (-2.47 mmHg, p<0.001). Between-group differences in changes of weight, blood pressure, and liver and renal functions at 12 months were not statistically significant. Conclusions In real-world T2D patients, dulaglutide versus liraglutide was associated with better glycemic control and comparable effects on changes of weight, blood pressure, and liver and renal functions.