Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42166303›Full record

ArticleJournal of managed care & specialty pharmacy2026

Effect of the initial combination approach vs initial monotherapy approach on 1-year trajectories of adherence in drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes.

Bilqees Fatima, Sai S Cheruvu, Zahra Majd, Susan Abughosh

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Bilqees FatimaPharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston, College of Pharmacy, TX.
Sai S CheruvuPharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston, College of Pharmacy, TX.
Zahra MajdPharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston, College of Pharmacy, TX.
Susan AbughoshPharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston, College of Pharmacy, TX.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe choice of initial pharmacotherapy approach may influence the medication-taking behavior of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, there remains a notable gap in the literature to assess the longitudinal adherence pattern of 2 treatment approaches, initial combination vs initial monotherapy with as-needed intensification.

objectiveTo assess the impact of the initial combination therapy approach vs the initial monotherapy approach with as-needed intensification on adherence trajectories and factors associated with the trajectories.

methodsRetrospective study using Merative MarketScan research databases (2017-2019). We have included continuously enrolled drug-naive patients with T2D who received initial monotherapy with as-needed intensification or initial combination therapy. Adherence was measured 12 months after the index date using the proportion of days covered (PDC). Monthly PDC was incorporated into a logistic group-based trajectory model, and patients were categorized into trajectory groups. A multinomial logistic regression model was conducted to examine the association of the diabetes management approach (combination vs initial monotherapy with as-needed intensification) on resultant adherence trajectory, adjusting for baseline characteristics.

resultsWe identified 116,597 Commercial/Medicare and 18,295 patients with Medicaid insurance. The 4-group and 3-group trajectory models for Commercial/Medicare and Medicaid patients, respectively, were selected. Within 1-year follow-up period, odds of lower adherence trajectories were higher for patients receiving initial combination therapy vs initial monotherapy with as-needed intensification group in both populations (Commercial/Medicare; rapid decline: odds ratio [OR] = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.65-1.8; gradual decline: OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.41-1.60; gaps in adherence: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.31-1.45; Medicaid; rapid decline trajectory: OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.16-1.50).

conclusionsFindings highlighted better adherence patterns among patients receiving initial monotherapy with as-needed intensification compared with initial combination therapy during 1-year post-treatment initiation.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Drug MonitoringHypoglycemic AgentsAgedDatabases, FactualDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHumansMaleMedicaidMedicareMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesUnited StatesHypoglycemic Agents

Identifiers

PMID42166303
PMCPMC13193323

What Socratic holds

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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.