Assessment of oral antidiabetic drugs use and outcomes in T2DM Patients in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background: In low-resource settings, oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) remain the mainstay of therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study examined prescribing patterns, adherence, and glycemic outcomes in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective observational study reviewed 138 randomly selected patient case notes and prescriptions from January 2023 to December 2024 at the medicine outpatient department of a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Outcomes included HbA1c and fasting blood sugar (FBS) at baseline and follow-up. Chi-square tests compared categorical variables, and Pearson correlation analyzed continuous relationships (α = .05). Results: Combination therapy was predominant, with triple therapy (metformin + sulfonylurea + DPP-4 inhibitor) most common (38.4%). FBS improved significantly at follow-up (χ² = 6.284, p = .012). Adherence was associated with glycemic outcomes (χ² = 7.829, p = .019). A strong correlation existed between duration of OAD use and duration of diabetes (r = 0.903, p < .001), with a modest correlation between baseline and follow-up HbA1c (r = 0.203, p = .017). Mean HbA1c decreased from 12.59% (SD = 3.40) to 10.87% (SD = 3.08; p = .001). Conclusion: OADs were associated with improved FBS and modest HbA1c reductions. Baseline HbA1c predicts follow-up values, and adherence is a key determinant of outcomes. Enhanced monitoring and adherence support are recommended.