Characterization of tirzepatide‐treated patients achieving different glycemic control levels in SURPASS‐AP‐Combo

Abstract Objective The study objective was to characterize subgroups of Asia‐Pacific patients with type 2 diabetes who achieved different glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) targets on tirzepatide treatment. Methods This was a post hoc analysis of the SURPASS AP‐Combo study. Baseline characteristics, changes in metabolic markers, and safety were compared between tirzepatide‐treated patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol) and those achieving ≥7.0% (≥53 mmol/mol) at week 40. Among patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol), further comparisons were conducted among subgroups achieving HbA1c <5.7% (<39 mmol/mol), 5.7% to 6.5% (39 to 48 mmol/mol), and >6.5% to <7.0% (>48 to <53 mmol/mol). Results Five hundred ninety‐eight patients on tirzepatide treatment without rescue medication were included (56.9% male; mean age: 53.1 years; mean baseline HbA1c: 8.7% [71.6 mmol/mol]). Patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol) versus ≥7.0% (≥53 mmol/mol) were slightly younger with a shorter disease duration and lower HbA1c at baseline, and they had greater improvements in HbA1c, fasting serum glucose, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, waist‐height ratio, diastolic blood pressure, lipids, and self‐monitored blood glucose at week 40. Patients achieving HbA1c <5.7% (<39 mmol/mol) versus those achieving 5.7% to 6.5% (39 to 48 mmol/mol) and those achieving >6.5% to <7.0% (>48 to <53 mmol/mol) were much younger, had much lower HbA1c, and had further improvements in metabolic markers. Tirzepatide treatment was well tolerated irrespective of the HbA1c level achieved, with a low incidence of hypoglycemic events. Conclusions These findings may help to inform clinical decisions in Asia‐Pacific patients with type 2 diabetes.