Switching from dulaglutide to tirzepatide was associated with numerically greater improvements in patient-reported outcomes, including emotional well-being and quality of life, compared with escalating dulaglutide therapy, according to findings from the SURPASS-SWITCH trial.
The 40-week, phase 4, randomized, open-label trial included adults with type 2 diabetes whose glycemic control was inadequate despite stable dulaglutide therapy. Participants were randomly assigned either to escalation of dulaglutide dose or to switch to tirzepatide. Outcomes included multiple validated patient-reported outcome measures.
Both treatment groups experienced improvements in health-related quality of life, including physical function, weight-related self-perception, and ability to perform daily activities. However, improvements were numerically larger among participants who switched to tirzepatide.
Scores for measures such as the Impact of Weight on Self-Perception and the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life improved in both groups, with greater magnitude of change observed in the tirzepatide group. Similarly, improvements in the ability to perform daily physical activities were numerically greater with tirzepatide.
The researchers also assessed emotional outcomes using additional instruments. A higher proportion of patients who switched to tirzepatide reported feeling “much more” hopeful, optimistic, happy, and self-confident, as well as more in control of their diabetes, eating, and weight. In contrast, fewer patients in the tirzepatide group reported feeling “much more” fearful, frustrated, or worried.
Global measures of emotional health improved in both groups, with numerically greater gains observed among patients treated with tirzepatide. These findings are consistent with previously reported clinical outcomes from the trial, which showed greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c levels and body weight with tirzepatide.
The researchers noted several limitations, including the open-label design, which may have influenced patient perceptions, and the assessment of patient-reported outcomes only at baseline and study completion. Interpretation of the findings was also limited by the number of participants who completed the outcome measures.
The findings suggest that switching to tirzepatide may provide benefits beyond glycemic control, including improvements in emotional well-being and daily functioning, although both treatment strategies were associated with improved patient-reported outcomes.
The study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company, and the researchers reported affiliations with the sponsor.
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
