Healthcare resource utilization and healthcare costs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus initiating sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors vs dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors in Japan: A real‐world administrative database analysis

ABSTRACT Aims/Introduction Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and healthcare costs are important factors to consider when selecting appropriate treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. We compared the HCRU and healthcare costs of sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) vs dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (DPP4i) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japan. Materials and Methods This was a Japanese retrospective cohort study conducted using the JMDC Claims Database (January 1, 2015–December 31, 2021). Patients newly treated with an SGLT2i (31,872 patients) or a DPP4i (73,279 patients) were matched 1:1, using propensity score, after excluding patients without continuous SGLT2i or DPP4i prescriptions after the index date. HCRU and healthcare costs were compared between the treatment groups in the full cohort and subcohorts/subgroups of different baseline characteristics, including body mass index (BMI). Results After matching, patient characteristics were well balanced (17,767 patients each). Patients receiving an SGLT2i vs those receiving a DPP4i had significantly lower numbers of hospitalizations per person per month (PPPM) and outpatient visits PPPM, and had shorter lengths of stay per hospitalization. Healthcare costs, including all‐cause overall healthcare costs PPPM and all‐cause hospitalization costs PPPM, were generally lower in patients receiving an SGLT2i than those receiving a DPP4i. Similar results were observed among patients with a higher BMI but not among patients with a lower BMI. Conclusions SGLT2i were associated with lower HCRU and healthcare costs than DPP4i, suggesting economic benefits with SGLT2i vs DPP4i in type 2 diabetes mellitus management.