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Background The factors considered by physicians when prescribing a glucose-lowering agent to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in real-world settings are not necessarily consistent with those recommended by clinical practice guidelines. Here, we identify the major factors that drive physicians' selection of glucose-lowering agents in the real world and how these factors may differ by physician's specialty. Methods A web-based survey was conducted among 135 physicians who manage patients with T2D in Saudi Arabia. Physicians were categorized according to their specialty into "specialists" (endocrinologists and/or diabetologists) and "generalists" (internists, family physicians, and primary care physicians). Physicians were asked about the type of glucose-lowering medication that they would typically prescribe in certain clinical scenarios and what factors drive such a selection. Results Sulfonylurea remains the most frequently prescribed second-line agent, as an add-on to metformin, according to 50% of the physicians surveyed. Most physicians (89%) reported prescribing glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) to less than half of their patients with T2D and ischemic heart disease; over two-thirds reported prescribing sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) to less than half of their patients with T2D and heart failure. When prescribing GLP-1RAs, the cost was a "major consideration" by 75% and 65% of the specialists and generalists, respectively. Likewise, when prescribing SGLT-2i, the cost was a major consideration by 57% and 71% of the specialists and generalists, respectively. Several other factors differed between the generalists and specialists when prescribing thiazolidinedione (TZD), sulfonylurea, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, GLP-1RAs, and SLGT-2i, but not insulin. Conclusion Our findings highlight several challenges faced by physicians in the real world that may prevent them from adopting the latest evidence-based guidelines when managing patients with T2D. Health policies to increase accessibility to novel glucose-lowering agents, particularly for patients with T2D and cardiovascular/renal diseases, are needed.
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OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between the blood group of patients and their response to bariatric surgery and to identify predictors of better outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity between 2014 and 2020 at King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: This study included 1434 individuals. The mean change in BMI (pre- versus post-BMI) differed statistically significantly between blood groups (p ≤ 0.01). The greatest drop in body weight was seen in individuals with the AB-negative blood type (56.0 (21.4) kg), which corresponds to the greatest percentage of reduction from baseline (47.7% (14.8)). The mean BMI of the patients decreased by 34.7% (9.2) from a mean pre-operation BMI of 45.5 (8.4) kg/m2 to 29.7 (6.1) kg/m2 (p ≤ 0.001). After laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, male patients and those with the B-negative blood type are more likely to see a greater BMI reduction (pre-operation compared to post-operation) (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For morbidly obese patients, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy demonstrated promising weight loss outcomes. Blood groups may be able to predict the success rate of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients.
