Evidence mapPaperPMID 41975014Full record

ReviewAdvances in therapy2026

Evaluating Cost-Effectiveness in Relation to the Supporting Clinical Evidence Across the Type 2 Diabetes Continuum: A Review of Metformin and SGLT2is.

Ian W Campbell, Kerstin M G Brand, Ulrike Gottwald-Hostalek, Julian Dettenbach

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Advances in therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Ian W CampbellMedical School, University of St Andrews, Fife, St Andrews, UK.
Kerstin M G BrandThe Healthcare Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
Ulrike Gottwald-HostalekThe Healthcare Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
Julian DettenbachThe Healthcare Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Julian.Dettenbach@merckgroup.com.

Funding

The healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany CrossRef Funder ID: 10.13039/100009945
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Metformin is a safe and effective glucose-lowering agent, widely regarded as the first-line treatment option for type 2 diabetes (T2D), and available at very low cost. Recent updates to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care guidance demonstrate a shift towards the earlier use of newer, more expensive, anti-diabetic agents for the treatment of T2D, based on concurrent conditions such as cardiovascular and/or renal complication reduction, and significant weight loss. As of 2026, this has culminated in sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) being recommended for patients with T2D and established atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or indicators of high ASCVD, heart failure or chronic kidney disease, independently of the use of metformin. The main evidence base supporting the use of SGLT2is in these patient populations come from cardiovascular and renal outcome trials, which recruited patients usually with long-standing T2D and high levels of cardiovascular and/or renal comorbidities. Whether the cardiovascular and renal benefits shown during these trials are generalisable to the early T2D or even pre-diabetic population may be debated. Ultimately, this leaves the question as to whether patients with early T2D and no cardiovascular and/or renal complications should receive treatment with SGLT2is, at a higher cost, where clinical evidence of superiority to established therapies like metformin are scarce. As T2D is a chronic, progressive disease, often advancing through pre-diabetes, early T2D and eventually treatment intensification, the cost-effectiveness of treatments at each stage of the disease must also be considered to understand the long-term economic burden. This review explores the available cost-effectiveness evidence, supported by clinical data, for the use of metformin and SGLT2is across the complete T2D continuum.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Hypoglycemic AgentsMetforminSodium-Glucose Transporter 2 InhibitorsCardiovascular DiseasesCost-Benefit AnalysisCost-Effectiveness AnalysisHumansHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminSodium-Glucose Transporter 2 InhibitorsCost-effectivenessHealth economicsMetforminSGLT2 inhibitorType 2 diabetes

Identifiers

PMID41975014
PMCPMC13222171

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.