People in Asia with type 2 diabetes need more and improved information about their condition, according to a survey led by Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly.
The survey, which involved 800 doctors in Japan, South Korea, India and China, found that more than three quarters of doctors surveyed believed more patient information is needed.
Respondents felt that the complexity of managing type 2 diabetes is underestimated, but that health outcomes and quality of life could be improved with high quality, structured patient education.
The survey also found that doctors were aware of the threat of heart disease and stroke to type 2 diabetes sufferers. A high proportion – 94 per cent – of those surveyed believed the management of cardiovascular risk influenced their decision when prescribing an oral anti-hyperglycaemic treatment.
A further important consideration when managing type 2 diabetes is the dosing schedule, the survey confirmed. Half of the respondents ranked ‘number of doses per day’ as the factor that influenced them the most when prescribing an oral anti-hyperglycaemic agent, in addition to the management of blood glucose.
“More than 60 per cent of the world’s diabetes population lives in Asia and physicians treating type 2 diabetes in this region acknowledge that this is a complex condition,” said Professor Klaus Dugi, corporate senior vice president medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim.
“Despite the numerous challenges type 2 diabetes can present, results from this survey show that healthcare professionals in Asia are evaluating the full spectrum of available treatments, dosing regimens, risk factors and co-morbidities to achieve the best possible health outcomes for patients,” he said.
The survey echoed the results of a similar poll carried out by the two companies in Europe in September 2013.
Boehringer and Lilly have a diabetes partnership that includes co-marketing deal for the DPP-4 inhibitor Trajenta (linagliptin).
The drug is available in several markets worldwide, including the US and EU, and Boehringer’s head of sales Allan Hillgrove recently confirmed to PMLiVE that the company has plans to launch the product in China through its partnership with Lilly.