Sex and age differences in the use of medications for diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors among 25,733 people with diabetes

Aim To determine sex and age differences in the use of medications for diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in people with diabetes in Australia. Methods Pharmaceutical claims data of participants in the 45 and Up Study who self-reported having diabetes before 2013, were alive on 1st January 2013 and had at least one medication dispensing record between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2019 were analysed. Annual sex and age-specific percentages of participants supplied specific medications were estimated for years 2013 to 2019. Percentages were reported for any glucose lowering medications and by drug class, any lipid modifying agents, and any blood pressure lowering medications. Results Altogether 25,733 participants (45.2% women) with diabetes were included. The percentage of participants who were supplied with glucose lowering medications was consistently lower in women compared to men. In both sexes, the percentage of participants who were supplied with glucose lowering medications was lowest among those aged ≥75 years and this decreased over time. Similar findings were observed for lipid modifying agents and blood pressure lowering medications. The use of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors increased substantially in participants aged <75 years since it became available in 2013. However, no sex differences were observed in its use among people with hospital-recorded history of cardiovascular disease. Conclusions Practitioners should be aware of possible sex disparities in the pharmacological treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in people with diabetes in Australia. There is a possible time lag between reporting of research findings and uptake of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors prescribing in individuals with diabetes and high cardiovascular risk in clinical practice, nevertheless, the result observed was consistent with the management guidelines at the time of the study.