Resource utilisation and clinical data before and after switching between short-acting human insulin and rapid-acting insulin analogues in patients with type 2 diabetes: The SWING study

Aim: SWING was a prospective, observational study conducted in nine European countries primarily to assess direct treatment costs when switching from short-acting human insulins to rapid-acting insulin analogues (H-A) or vice versa (A-H) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Data were collected at a baseline visit (time of switch) and at approximately 3, 6 and 12 months post-switch. Results: In total, 2389 patients switched from H-A (n = 2203) or A-H (n = 186); another 603 were enrolled but ineligible. Mean (SD) direct diabetes-related costs (pro-rated to account for variable visit schedules) were (sic)548.7 (865.8) 6 months prior to switch, (sic)625.6 (1474.9) at 0-6 months and (sic)568.6 (590.7) 6-12 months following switch for H-A, and (sic)544.5 (421.0), (sic)481.0 (301.5) and (sic)461.6 (335.0) for A-H, respectively. Mean (SD) HbA(1c) decreased over 12 months by 1.08 (1.53)% units H-A and 1.17 (1.45)% units A-H. A small decline in hypoglycaemia occurred over time, but there were no clinically meaningful changes in mean PROs. Conclusions: There were small changes in mean direct diabetes-related costs (following adjustment for time interval) in patients switching in either direction. Improvements in mean HbA(1c) and incidence of hypoglycaemia cannot necessarily be attributed to therapeutic switch. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.