A comparison of health-related quality of life (health utility) between insulin degludec and insulin glargine: A meta-analysis of phase 3 trials

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate health-related quality of life (health utility) scores in patients with diabetes receiving insulin degludec (IDeg) or insulin glargine (IGlar). Methods: Patient-level data from six, randomized, controlled, open-label, multicentre, confirmatory, treat-to-target trials of 26- or 52 weeks' duration were pooled in this analysis. The Short Form 36 (SF-36) version-2 health questionnaire was completed by patients at baseline and end-of-trial. SF-36 scores for 4001 individual patients were then mapped onto the EuroQol-5D health utility scale, which has a range from -0.59 (a state worse than death) to 1.00 (perfect health). Results: IDeg treatment exhibited a significant improvement in health status of 0.005 (CI: 0.0006; 0.009) points compared with IGlar (p<0.024). Gender, region, trial and age also had a significant influence on estimated utility scores as did baseline utility scores, p<0.05. Prior to the removal of interaction variables a difference of 0.008 points was observed, p<0.045. Previous insulin treatment did not have an impact on the final outcome. Conclusion: This study shows that IDeg is associated with a modest, but statistically significant, improvement in health utility compared with IGlar in patients with diabetes. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.