Evidence mapPaperPMID 42570295Full record

ArticleThe Journal of international medical research2026

Trends in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist utilization and expenditure in Croatia.

Andrej Belančić, Marta Kučan Štiglić, Almir Fajkić, Ana Jelaković, Ivan Pećin, Željko Reiner, Bojan Jelaković, Dinko Vitezić

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Article in The Journal of international medical research, 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

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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

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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

8 authors.

Andrej BelančićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-7848-6600
Marta Kučan ŠtiglićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Croatia.
Almir FajkićDepartment of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ana JelakovićDepartment of Nephrology, Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia.
Ivan PećinDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia.
Željko ReinerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia.
Bojan JelakovićDepartment of Nephrology, Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia.
Dinko VitezićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Croatia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

IntroductionGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have transformed the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity by improving glycemic control, promoting weight loss, and reducing cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to evaluate national trends in GLP-1 RA utilization and expenditure in Croatia between 2010 and 2024.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide, retrospective analysis using the International Medical Statistics and IQVIA pharmaceutical databases. Utilization was measured in defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, and financial expenditure was expressed in euros. Trends were contextualized within evolving clinical evidence, guideline recommendations, and healthcare reimbursement policies.ResultsTotal noninsulin antidiabetic drug consumption more than doubled between 2010 and 2024, with the use of GLP-1 RAs rising from negligible at the time of market entry to that worth 15.99 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2024, representing 16.1% of total prescriptions. Expenditure on GLP-1 RAs reached 42.07 million euros in 2024, accounting for 42.7% of total noninsulin antidiabetic spending. Semaglutide emerged as the dominant agent according to both utilization and cost, followed by dulaglutide and liraglutide. Obesity-specific indications were underutilized, largely due to lack of reimbursement.ConclusionsGLP-1 RA prescribing has increased substantially in Croatia over the past decade, reflecting their growing therapeutic importance. However, economic constraints, restrictive reimbursement, and sociocultural barriers continue to limit access, particularly in obesity care. Our findings highlight the need to align reimbursement frameworks and clinical practice with emerging evidence to maximize the cardiometabolic and public health benefits of GLP-1 RAs.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsHealth ExpendituresHypoglycemic AgentsObesityCroatiaGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 ReceptorGlucagon-Like PeptidesHumansImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsLiraglutideRecombinant Fusion ProteinsRetrospective StudiesSemaglutidedulaglutideGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 ReceptorGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsGlucagon-Like PeptidesHypoglycemic AgentsImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsLiraglutideRecombinant Fusion ProteinsSemaglutideGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonistsobesitypharmacoepidemiologytype 2 diabetes

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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.