Pioglitazone and the risk of myocardial infarction and other major adverse cardiac events: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials

Am J Ther. 2008 Nov-Dec;15(6):506-11. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0b013e318167180c.

Abstract

A recent meta-analysis suggested that the use of rosiglitazone increases the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is unclear whether this is a class effect of thiazolidinediones (TZD). We did a meta-analysis to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes with the use of pioglitazone. Randomized, controlled trials in which pioglitazone was compared with placebo or other hypoglycemic agents were considered for analysis. Studies were included if the data for MI were available. Studies were identified with use of relevant search words in Medline, Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases. Data abstraction was done by 2 individual authors using a standardized protocol. The relative risk across all study groups was computed by the Mantel-Haenszel method, and interstudy heterogeneity was assessed by the chi method. All results were computed according to 95% confidence intervals. Five trials (N = 9965) met the inclusion criteria for analysis. The relative risk for MI was 0.86 (0.69-1.07; P = 0.17). The relative risks for stroke and revascularization were 0.79 (0.61-1.02; P = 0.07) and 0.40 (0.13-1.23; P = 0.11), respectively. Pioglitazone does not increase the risk for MI and may decrease the risk for stroke and revascularization.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Myocardial Infarction / chemically induced*
  • Pioglitazone
  • Risk Assessment
  • Thiazolidinediones / adverse effects*
  • Thiazolidinediones / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Pioglitazone