Vnitr Lek 2014, 60(11):999-1006

Adherence of type 2 diabetes patients on insulin analogues application: missed dose, time imprecision and dose reduction. The results of GAPP2™ (Global Attitudes of Physicians and Patient) survey in the Czech Republic

Martin Prázný

III. interní klinika 1. LF UK a VFN Praha, přednosta prof. MUDr. Štěpán Svačina, DrSc., MBA

Objective:
Irregular insulin dose is one of the main problems associated with insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes; its extent is not known precisely. The aim of survey conducted in the Czech Republic in the international project GAPP2™ - Global Attitudes of Patients and Physicians was to determine the incidence and the impact of irregular use of basal insulin analogues in patients with type 2 diabetes, to point out the reasons for these irregularities and to focus on how physicians discuss irregular application of insulin with patients.

Methods:
The project GAPP2™ is an international cross-sectional study performed on-line via the Internet using a questionnaire filled by diabetic patients treated with insulin analogues and physicians who treat these patients. The survey was conducted in two steps in 17 countries; the first step included 6 countries and was completed in the beginning of 2012, the second step involved 11 other countries including the Czech Republic with termination in 2014. The survey was designed to obtain the views of patients and physicians on certain aspects of insulin treatment and persistent issues in this field in the real daily practice. Special focus was on the incidence and management of hypoglycaemia as well as on irregularities of insulin application. In the part dedicated to adherence to basal insulin application were observed three types of irregular insulin therapy: missed dose, time imprecision of dose (± 2 hours vs. the prescribed time) and dose reduction in all cases in the past 30 days before completing the questionnaire. In addition, it was investigated the attitude and relation of patients to these issues.

Results:
The results have shown that irregular insulin dose in the Czech Republic is less frequent than in other countries involved in the GAPP2™ research. Nevertheless, approximately one fifth of diabetic patients using insulin analogues in basal-bolus or only basal therapy regimen is related to this problem. The last irregular insulin application was due to missed dose in 13% of cases, time imprecision in 23% and reduction of dose in 61% of cases. The most commonly reported reason was risk reduction of hypoglycaemia and the recommendations of health professionals. Fear of missed dose is present in 40% Czech patients and 35% would feel guilty if their insulin dose is missed (up to 47% in patients with intensified insulin regimen). Only 60% patients are aware of negative impact on their long-term health after missed dose of basal insulin. Questioned doctors have suspected that the patients report lower number of missed doses during regular medical check because one third of patients doesn't admit missed dose. However, this fact conceded only 11% of patients on basal insulin and 15% of patients on intensified insulin therapy. Quarter of prescribing doctors admit that they usually don't discuss with patients irregularities in basal insulin treatment.

Conclusion:
Although, type 2 diabetes patients in the Czech Republic follow prescribed basal insulin therapy scheme more often than patients in other countries participating in the survey GAPP2 ™, missed dose, time imprecision and reduction of dose is quite common and it deserves more attention from medical side during regular medical check together with appropriate education of patients.

Keywords: adherence; basal insulin; dose reduction of insulin; hypoglycaemia; insulin therapy; missed dose; time imprecision; type 2 diabetes

Received: October 21, 2014; Published: November 1, 2014  Show citation