Background: Weight is an increasingly important component of care goals and treatment selection for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Over 80% of people with T2D have obesity, yet population-level assessments can be challenging as weight is often underreported in administrative data.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of 8,680 commercially insured adults enrolled in a virtual specialty clinic (Level2) for at least one year using de-identified administrative claims and patient-reported BMI in a research database. Diabetes drug prevalence was measured using fill rates and stratified by claims-based and self-reported weight, to describe differences. Claims and diabetes drug fills from 9/15/2021 to 9/15/2022 were included.
Results: Overall, 25.1% (n = 2183) had an obesity-related claim. Of the subset with a self-reported BMI, 76.3% (n = 366) had obesity and 50.1% (n = 187) had at least one obesity-related claim. Diabetes drug fills (Table 1) varied by class, BMI strata, and BMI source. After biguanides, GLP-1 RAs were the most filled class, with utilization varying from 21% (self-reported BMI 25 to 30 kg/m2) to 34% (claims-based BMI > 40 kg/m2).
Conclusion: Despite the importance of weight in T2D care, it remains underreported in administrative data assets. Using administrative data together with accurate measures of weight, including from self-report, can inform T2D practice and program design.
P.Wollersheim: Employee; Level2. S.Bacon: Employee; Optum Labs, Research Support; Level2. N.Thompson: Employee; Level2, Stock/Shareholder; UnitedHealth Group. C.Clark: Employee; UnitedHealth Group, Stock/Shareholder; UnitedHealth Group.
