Diabetes Care 30:1399-1405, 2007 DOI: 10.2337/dc06-1497 © 2007 by the American Diabetes Association
Satisfaction and Quality of Life With Premeal Inhaled Versus Injected Insulin in Adolescents and Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
1 Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts Address correspondence and reprint requests to Marcia A. Testa, MPH, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: testa{at}hsph.harvard.edu
OBJECTIVEWe sought to compare and evaluate the impact of inhaled versus injected insulin on potential mediators of patient acceptance of insulin therapy while maintaining comparable A1C levels. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSDuring a noninferiority efficacy trial conducted in 40 centers in the U.S., we surveyed treatment satisfaction, quality of life, and adherence barriers at weeks 4, 1, 6, 12, 20, and 24 in adolescents aged 1217 years and adults with type 1 diabetes who received premeal regular plus twice-daily NPH insulin during a 4-week run-in; then, subjects were randomized to premeal inhaled human insulin plus twice-daily NPH (adults, n = 102; adolescents, n = 60) (inhaled) or remaining on run-in therapy (n = 105 and 60, respectively) (subcutaneous injection). RESULTSOverall treatment satisfaction (0100) increased by 13.2 ± 1.1 units for inhaled insulin (baseline = 63.3 ± 1.2) compared with 1.7 ± 0.8 for subcutaneous insulin injection (baseline = 64.1 ± 1.2, P < 0.0001). All 12 satisfaction subscales favored inhaled insulin (all P < 0.01), and effects did not vary by age or sex. Despite similar baseline-adjusted end point A1C for inhaled (7.7 ± 0.1%) and subcutaneous (7.9 ± 0.1%) regimens, quality-of-life scales of mental health, symptoms, health status, cognitive functioning, and adherence barriers during treatment were more favorable for inhaled insulin (all P < 0.05). Greater satisfaction was associated with fewer barriers to insulin adherence (rho = 0.78, P < 0.0001) and a greater reduction in A1C (rho = 0.18, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONSTreatment satisfaction was substantially more favorable, adherence barriers moderately lower, and quality of life moderately higher for inhaled compared with subcutaneous regimen. It remains to be demonstrated whether these patient-reported outcomes will translate into improved adherence and glycemic control.
Abbreviations: FPG, fasting plasma glucose
Maintaining A1C levels <7% in individuals with type 1 diabetes has been shown to reduce microvascular and some macrovascular complications (1,2). Reaching A1C goals by intensifying the insulin regimen often requires either an insulin pump or a basal/bolus multiple-injection insulin regimen. However, use of the pump has been limited by its cost, required technical expertise, and the relative paucity of health care providers trained in its use, and the acceptance of basal/bolus insulin regimens is hindered by the burden of multiple injections (36). Clinical trials have demonstrated that inhaled insulin is comparable with injected insulin in lowering A1C in individuals with type 1 (7,8) and type 2 (9) diabetes. However, the clinical rationale for its use is based on the belief that multiple inhalations will be more acceptable to patients, thereby promoting increased adherence to intensive insulin regimens. However, evidence of this causal relationship has not been empirically established during clinical trials of efficacy since adherence to treatment and A1C goals are strictly enforced for all patients. Additionally, real-world clinical experience with the only form of inhaled insulin approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is lacking since it has just recently become available. While empirical data documenting the relationship between greater acceptance and superior glycemic control is not available, mediators in the pathwaynamely, treatment satisfaction, quality of life, and barriers to insulin adherencecan be evaluated. Such measures could provide valuable insight when weighing the risks and benefits of incorporating inhaled insulin delivery as part of intensive insulin regimens. The purpose of our study was to compare the impact of inhaled versus injected insulin on potential mediators of adherence during a clinical trial (8) that previously reported that inhaled human insulin has comparable safety and efficacy to injected insulin in type 1 diabetic patients currently using multiple daily injections.
A detailed description of the clinical results of the parent protocol was published previously (8). Briefly, this open-label, randomized, multicenter trial consisted of a screening visit, 4-week lead-in, and 24-week treatment phase. A total of 419 individuals with type 1 diabetes for at least 1 year were screened at 40 centers in the U.S. and Canada. Inclusion criteria were age 1265 years, stable on an insulin regimen of at least two injections daily for 2 months before screening, baseline A1C between 6 and 11% inclusive, fasting plasma C-peptide 0.2 pmol/ml, and BMI 30 kg/m2. Exclusion criteria included poorly controlled asthma, recent smoking, and significant laboratory abnormalities. The protocol was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from all subjects. To standardize baseline assessments during the 4 weeks before randomization, all patients were switched to subcutaneous premeal regular insulin plus twice-daily NPH insulin administered in four subcutaneous injections daily (subcutaneous regimen). Target glucose ranges were 80120 mg/dl (4.46.7 mmol/l) before meals and 100140 mg/dl (5.67.8 mmol/l) before bedtime. A total of 162 individuals were randomized to insulin human (rDNA origin) Inhalation Powder (Exubera; Pfizer and Nektar Therapeutics) and twice-daily NPH insulin (inhaled regimen); 165 individuals were instructed to continue on their prerandomization subcutaneous regimen. Inhaled insulin was administered as one to two inhalations within 10 min of starting each meal. The insulin powder was packaged in foil blisters of 1- and 3-mg doses, which are approximately equivalent to 3 IU and 8 IU of subcutaneous insulin, respectively. Insulin doses were adjusted weekly by the investigator to achieve target premeal glucose levels, and patients adjusted doses according to diet and exercise requirements.
Assessments
Patient-reported questionnaires.
Statistical methods
Study accrual, withdrawals, and baseline characteristics In total, 120 adolescents aged 1217 years were randomized to the inhaled (n = 60) and subcutaneous (n = 60) regimens, and 207 adults were randomized to inhaled (n = 102) and subcutaneous (n = 105) regimens. For the 160 patients on inhaled regimen who completed baseline questionnaires, 154 (96.3%) completed the week 24 questionnaire and 159 (99.4%) completed week 12 or later; for the 162 subcutaneous regimen baseline completers, corresponding values were 152 (93.8%) and 155 (95.7%), respectively. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and insulin treatments are summarized in Table 1. Baseline satisfaction scores indicated moderate satisfaction with the run-in subcutaneous insulin treatment (Table 2) (scale range was 0 [greatest dissatisfaction] to 100 [highest satisfaction]). The one exception was the low score of 35 for the preference scale, suggesting patients had a desire to seek new treatments.
Changes in glycemic control Baseline-adjusted A1C at final visit was 7.7 ± 0.1% for inhaled insulin and 7.9 ± 0.1% for subcutaneous regimens (baseline = 8.0 ± 0.1% for both groups, P = 0.066 between treatment-adjusted A1C baseline to end point change). ANCOVA showed an overall age effect (P = 0.002); however, tests of the interactions indicated that the treatment impact on A1C did not vary by age (P = 0.59), sex (P = 0.92), or age and sex (P = 0.94). The 24-week change in FPG for inhaled insulin was 1.9 mmol/l (35 mg/dl), whereas the subcutaneous group increased by 0.2 mmol/l (+4 mg/dl), with an adjusted treatment group difference of 2.2 mmol/l (40 mg/dl) (95% CI 3.2 mmol/l [58 mg/dl] to 1.2 mmol/l [22 mg/dl]).
Patient-reported outcomes
Quality of life during treatment. Between screening and baseline there was 0.4% decrease in A1C (P < 0.001) with a corresponding improvement in overall quality of life (P = 0.024) for both groups combined. Overall quality of life (absolute scale range of 500 units and operative range of 64 units [17]) improved at end point by 12.2 ± 3.3 units for inhaled insulin and 2.6 ± 3.4 units for subcutaneous regimens (P = 0.043), representing a 15% difference in the operative range (0.31 ± 0.15 SD responsiveness units). This difference is within the range of values that are likely to be clinically relevant (10,11,17,21). As shown in Table 3, treatment differences in the quality-of-life scales were more favorable for inhaled insulin, including symptom distress, symptom interference in daily activities, cognitive functioning, and general health. The more positive mental and emotional health scores were driven primarily by improvements in anxiety and behavioral and emotional control. Both age and sex modified the treatment effect on mental health (treatment interactions with age-group [P = 0.001], sex [P = 0.002], and age-group by sex [P < 0.0001]). Adult female subjects showed the largest inhaled insulin regimen gain in mental health (+10.9 units) in contrast to adult male (3.6 units), adolescent male (+5.9 units), and adolescent female (+5.4 units) subjects.
Adherence barriers to insulin use. As shown in Table 3, the inhaled insulin group scored more favorably on six of the seven questions relating to barriers to insulin adherence, and these effects did not vary by age. There was no difference with regard to self-consciousness when using insulin away from home. Six questions addressing barriers specific to injectable insulin revealed that inhaled insulin rated fewer barriers with insulin (regardless of delivery) (total score 74.2 ± 1.4 for inhaled insulin vs. 67.0 ± 1.6 for subcutaneous regimens [higher score reflects fewer/lower barriers], P = 0.001). Answers to the 12 inhaler devicespecific insulin questions confirmed positive endorsement for the inhaler device itself, with the highest endorsement rating of 94.9 ± 1.0 (on a scale of 0100) for reduced pain. All ratings were significantly higher than a neutral endorsement score of 50.0 (P < 0.0001), and the average total rating was 78.3 ± 1.4 (P < 0.0001 vs. 50.0). Inhaled insulin patients rated the bother and hassle associated with their inhaler device consistently lower at weeks 6, 12, 20, and 24 ([mean ± SE] 83.3 ± 1.9, 82.2 ± 2.0, 80.3 ± 2.1, and 82.4 ± 2.0, respectively) than their NPH injections (68.6 ± 2.0, 68.4 ± 2.1, 66.1 ± 2.1, and 67.6 ± 2.3, respectively, P < 0.001).
Symptom distress.
Comparative treatment preference and associations between treatment satisfaction, quality of life, adherence barriers, and glycemic control.
For individuals with type 1 diabetes treated with two or more daily injections of regular/NPH insulin and moderately satisfied with their current therapy, there is opportunity to improve their experience with insulin therapy. Inhaled insulin patients reported substantial and stable improvement in their satisfaction ratings between weeks 6 and 24 in contrast to no change for those remaining on the run-in subcutaneous regimen. These findings are consistent with other recent studies suggesting that ease of use, convenience, social comfort, and flexibility of the treatment process are important issues to both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients for insulin administration (24,25). Our findings also documented that more positive perceptions of glycemic control, side effects, cognitive function, and physical and psychological well being accompanied the higher satisfaction ratings for patients on the inhaled insulin regimen. It is important to note that our comparative findings may not apply to other insulin regimens.
Although inhaled insulin is not approved for individuals aged The reasons for the positive effects of inhaled insulin on the quality-of-life outcomes are uncertain; however, it is possible that the rapidly acting premeal inhaled insulin resulted in a more favorable metabolic profile that mediated these improvements. Also, FPG was lower by 40 mg/dl, and the inhaled insulin group reported "better glycemic control" even though both groups had statistically comparable A1C. A1C might be too insensitive a measure to detect quality-of-life improvements that are important and salient to patients. Indeed, the higher symptom distress reported by patients on the subcutaneous regimen were for thirst, general weakness or fatigue, impaired or worsening vision, lethargy, no energy to do things, tiredness, and feeling weary, all of which are associated with hyperglycemia. One of the most intriguing findings was that out of 53 symptoms, the symptom that was ameliorated most by inhaled insulin was "feeling overweight." Although it was previously reported that body weight increased comparably in both groups (8), the gains were predominant in the growing adolescent subjects, which masked the treatment differential in adult female subjects who were most distressed by weight gain. Weight gain with insulin is a significant barrier to adhering to insulin regimens, especially in women. Because of the noninferiority design of this trial, during which adherence was purposely and strictly enforced in both groups, there was little opportunity to observe differences in A1C resulting from differences in adherence. As such, we chose to focus assessment on patient ratings of barriers to insulin adherence such as "how much difficulty they had taking every dose of insulin as recommended." It was not surprising that individuals who expressed the most difficulty had the lowest overall satisfaction with treatment. Since it has been previously observed that clinical trials substantially underestimate discontinuation with drug therapy and overestimate adherence and that quality of life may better predict outcomes in actual practice (26,27), we might anticipate that the more favorable satisfaction and quality-of-life outcomes observed for inhaled insulin might translate into greater acceptance and better adherence with insulin therapy in clinical practice. The barriers to effective diabetes management are multifactorial, but our study supports the belief that psychological, behavioral, and attitudinal factors play a role in patient satisfaction with insulin therapy. The use of inhaled insulin in type 1 diabetic patients should proceed with caution since the long-term consequences (both positive and negative) will not be known until real-world use, and experience yields the long-term safety and efficacy data that only postmarketing surveillance can provide. Communication between physicians and patients pertaining to these patient-centered factors, especially in individuals failing to intensify or maintain their insulin regimen, might better inform the clinical decision process when weighing risks and benefits of alternative methods of delivering intensive insulin regimens.
We thank the investigators (see ref. 8 for a complete list), Ralph R. Turner, PhD, MPH; Johanna F. Hayes, ScM; Sharon Murphy; and the staff at Phase V Technologies, Inc., for managing the survey data.
Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 2 March 2007. DOI: 10.2337/dc06-1497. Clinical trial reg. no. NCT00424333, clinicaltrials.gov. M.A.T. and D.C.S. have received research grants and honoraria from Pfizer. Additional information for this article can be found in an online appendix at http://dx.doi.org/10.2337/dc06-1497. A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. Received for publication July 20, 2006. Accepted for publication February 16, 2007.
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