Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Middle East and Africa Cohort of the DISCOVER Study Program: a Prospective Study

Introduction Despite the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and suboptimal glycemic control in the Middle East and Africa, comprehensive data on the management of T2D remain scarce. The main aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and treatment of patients with T2D initiating second-line glucose-lowering therapy in these regions. Methods DISCOVER is a global, 3-year, prospective observational study of patients with T2D enrolled at initiation of second-line glucose-lowering therapy. Baseline characteristics and treatments are presented for patients from 12 countries divided into three regions: Mediterranean, Gulf Cooperation Council, and South Africa. Results Among 3525 patients (52.5% male, mean age 54.3 years), mean time since T2D diagnosis was 6.2 years [across-region range (ARR) 5.8–7.5 years] and mean glycated hemoglobin levels were 8.7% (72.0 mmol/mol) [ARR 8.6–9.0% (68–75 mmol/mol)]. At first line, metformin was prescribed for 88.1% (ARR 85.4–90.3%) of patients and a sulfonylurea for 34.4% (ARR 12.7–45.4%). Sulfonylureas and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors were prescribed at second line for 55.5% (ARR 48.6–82.5%) and 49.0% (ARR 3.7–73.8%) of patients, respectively. Main reasons for choice of second-line therapy were efficacy (73.2%; ARR 60.1–77.7%) and tolerability (26.8%; ARR 3.7–31.2%). Conclusions We demonstrate considerable inter-region variations in the management of T2D, likely affected by multiple factors (health system, physician behavior, and patient compliance), all of which should be addressed to optimize outcomes.