Publication

Online searches for SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists correlate with prescription rates in the United States: An infodemiological study

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Last modified
  • 06/17/2025
Type of Material
Authors
    Omar Dzaye, Johns Hopkins UniversityPhilipp Berning, Johns Hopkins UniversityAlexander C Razavi, Johns Hopkins UniversityRishav Adhikari, Johns Hopkins UniversityKunal Jha, Johns Hopkins UniversityKhurram Nasir, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular CenterJohn W Ayers, University of California, San DiegoMartin Bødtker Mortensen, Johns Hopkins UniversityMichael J Blaha, Johns Hopkins University
Language
  • English
Date
  • 2022-07-29
Publisher
  • Frontiers Media
Publication Version
Copyright Statement
  • © 2022 Dzaye, Berning, Razavi, Adhikari, Jha, Nasir, Ayers, Mortensen and Blaha.
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Final Published Version (URL)
Title of Journal or Parent Work
Volume
  • 9
Grant/Funding Information
  • OD received support from National Institutes of Health grant T32 HL007227.
Supplemental Material (URL)
Abstract
  • Several clinical trials have demonstrated that many SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Recent reports indicate an underutilization of new cardiometabolic drugs, including SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA. We aimed to evaluate the use of online search volumes to reflect United States prescription rates. A repeated cross-sectional analysis of Google search volumes and corresponding data from the IQVIA National Prescription Audit (NPA) of pharmacy dispensing of newly prescribed drugs was performed. Monthly data for online searches and prescription between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021 were collected for selected SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA. Prescription data for drugs classes (SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA) and individual drugs were calculated as the total of queried data for branded drug names. Trends were analyzed for visual and quantitative correlation as well as predictive patterns. Overall, online searches increased by 157.6% (95% CI: 142.2–173.1%) and 295.2% (95% CI: 257.7–332.6%) for SGLT2i and GLP-1RA between 2016 and 2021. Prescription rates raised by 114.6% (95% CI: 110.8–118.4%) and 221.0% (95% CI: 212.1–229.9%) for SGLT2i and GLP-1RA for this period. Correlation coefficients (range 0.86–0.99) were strongest for drugs with growing number of prescriptions, for example dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ertugliflozin, dulaglutide, and semaglutide. Online searches might represent an additional tool to monitor the utilization trends of cardiometabolic drugs. Associations were strongest for drugs with reported cardioprotective effect. Thus, trends in online searches complement conventionally acquired data to reflect and forecast prescription trends of cardiometabolic drugs.
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Research Categories
  • Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

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