GLP-1 RA utilization in Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes and cancer surged from 0.5% to 8.2%

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) management increasingly involves glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). A significant portion of T2D patients also have a history of cancer, yet specific oncology guidance for GLP-1 RA use in this population is limited. This creates a knowledge gap regarding utilization patterns and factors influencing prescribing decisions for patients with concurrent T2D and cancer, despite the growing use of these agents. Understanding these trends is crucial for informing clinical practice.

A retrospective cohort study analyzed Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data. Researchers identified 373,278 Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with 7 common cancers between 2010 and 2021, all with preexisting type 2 diabetes. This cancer cohort was 1:1 matched to 373,278 noncancer controls with type 2 diabetes based on sociodemographic characteristics. Beneficiaries were followed annually until death or study end (Dec 2021/2022). The primary endpoint was any GLP-1 RA use, with trends stratified by Medicare type and factors analyzed via multivariable logistic regression.