Olla Hilal, BMSc '25, MSc Candidate
Olla Hilal
Characteristics of Patients taking Semaglutide at the Primary Care Diabetes Support Program
-Project supervised by Dr. Maria Mathews, PhD and completed in 2025
Abstract
Introduction: The Primary Care Diabetes Support Program (PCDSP) supports high-risk patients by providing resources to manage diabetes. Semaglutide (known by the brand names Rybelsus or Ozempic) is used to lower blood sugar (HbA1c) and weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, some patients discontinue taking the drug due to cost or side effects.
This study described the characteristics of PCDSP patients taking semaglutide and identified predictors for continuing semaglutide for three years. We hypothesized that uninsured patients would be more likely to stop the drug before three years.
Data and Methods: Using a longitudinal cohort design and electronic medical record data, we followed 456 eligible patients who started semaglutide between 2018 and 2020 for three years. Following descriptive and bivariate analyses, we used logistic regression to identify predictors of taking semaglutide for 3 years (yes/no).
Results: Most patients in the study sample were men (57.0%), under 65 years old (62.7%), had T2DM (98.2%), had diabetes for over three years (63.3%), were married (56.7%), had public insurance (52.6%), were not socially complex (75.4%), were medically complex (90.4%), took Ozempic (98.9%), and did not take semaglutide for over three years (82.7%). Patients who took semaglutide for three years were heavier and had higher A1C when they started semaglutide than patients who discontinued the drug. Patients with heavier weight (i.e. each additional kilogram) were more likely to remain on semaglutide for three years (OR=1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03).
Discussion: The majority of patients discontinued semaglutide before three years. Heavier (kg) patients were more likely to remain on the drug, possibly because of the improvements in clinical measurements. Our study is hindered by large amounts of missing data, particularly for clinical variables. Further research is needed to identify reasons for discontinuation.
About Olla
Olla has completed her fourth year of her Bachelor of Medical Sciences at Western University specializing in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Her thesis examined patients taking Ozempic at the Primary Care Diabetes Support Program at St. Joseph's Health Care in London, Ontario under the supervision of Dr. Maria Mathews. She will be starting her MSc in Epidemiology at Western University in September 2025. Her research interests include barriers to accessing clinical trials and health services.
