Switching patterns of GLP-1 receptor agonists from 2018 to 2025 in the largest private healthcare network in Poland
摘要
To characterize switching among GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in a large private-sector cohort in Poland and to quantify therapy- and patient-level associations with switching while accounting for switching opportunity and calendar-time dynamics.
MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of GLP-1 RA prescription records from the LUX MED network (2018–2025). Switching was defined as any change in agent between consecutive prescriptions. Patients with more than one prescription were included (n = 42,423). The primary analysis used a transition-level discrete-time hazard model in which each prescription-to-prescription interval contributed one observation, and the outcome was switching at that interval. Current-therapy contrasts were reported relative to subcutaneous semaglutide. Sensitivity analyses examined alternative temporal parameterizations and additional adjustment for elapsed time.
ResultsOverall, 29.7% of patients switched at least once and 14.3% switched two or more times. In the transition-level analysis, 12,620 patients contributed 27,095 transitions. After adjustment for opportunity and calendar time, liraglutide was associated with substantially lower odds of switching compared with subcutaneous semaglutide (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01–0.03), whereas oral semaglutide (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.78–2.17) and dulaglutide (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 0.95–3.04) did not differ significantly. Temporal analyses revealed peaks consistent with episodic substitution and accelerated tirzepatide uptake after market entry. The principal associations remained directionally consistent in sensitivity analyses.
ConclusionsSwitching among GLP-1 RAs is common and time-dependent. Time-aware modelling identified therapy-specific switching patterns and pronounced temporal variation; reasons for switching remain unmeasured, and the observed associations should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating.