Efficacy and safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and metformin as initial combination therapy and as monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2014 Jan;16(1):30-7. doi: 10.1111/dom.12174. Epub 2013 Jul 16.

Abstract

Aims: This meta-analysis was performed to provide an update on the efficacy and safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and metformin as initial combination therapy and as monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We conducted a search on MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Collaborative database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of DPP-4 inhibitors and metformin as initial combination therapy or as monotherapy in patients with T2DM by the end of December 2012, using the key words 'alogliptin', 'dutogliptin', 'linagliptin', 'saxagliptin', 'sitagliptin', 'vildagliptin' and 'metformin'. RCTs were selected for meta-analysis if (1) they were RCTs comparing DPP-4 inhibitors plus metformin as initial combination therapy or DPP-4 inhibitor monotherapy to metformin monotherapy, (2) duration of treatment was ≥12 weeks and (3) reported data on haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) change, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) change, weight change, adverse cardiovascular (CV) events, hypoglycaemia or gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs).

Results: A total of eight RCTs were included. Compared with metformin monotherapy, DPP-4 inhibitors monotherapy was associated with lower reduction in HbA1c level [weighted mean differences (MD) = 0.28, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (0.17, 0.40), p < 0.00001], lower reduction in FPG level [MD = 0.81, 95% CI(0.60, 1.02), p <0.00001], lower weight loss [MD = 1.51, 95% CI (0.89, 2.13), p < 0.00001], but lower risk of adverse CV events [risk ratio (RR) = 0.36, 95% CI (0.15, 0.85), p = 0.02], lower risk of hypoglycaemia [RR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.27, 0.72), p = 0.001] and lower risk of gastrointestinal AEs [RR = 0.63, 95% CI(0.55, 0.70), p <0.00001]. Compared with metformin monotherapy, DPP-4 inhibitors plus metformin as initial combination therapy was associated with higher reduction in HbA1c level [MD = -0.49, 95% CI (-0.57, -0.40), p < 0.00001], higher reduction in FPG level [MD = -0.80, 95% CI (-0.87, -0.74), p < 0.00001], lower weight loss [MD = 0.44, 95% CI (0.22, 0.67), p = 0.0001]; but was not associated with a further reduction in adverse CV events [RR=0.54, 95% CI (0.25, 1.19), p = 0.13], nor the higher risk of hypoglycaemia [RR = 1.04, 95% CI (0.72, 1.50), p = 0.82], nor the prolonged risk of gastrointestinal AEs [RR = 0.98, 95% CI (0.88, 1.10), p = 0.77].

Conclusions: DPP-4 inhibitors, which are safe and effective in controlling the blood glucose, may possibly decrease the risk of CV events in patients with T2DM. It could be a credible alternative for T2DM patients who, for some reason, cannot use metformin, or are in high risk of CV exposure. High-quality, large sample and long-term follow-up clinical trails are needed to confirm the long-term conclusions.

Keywords: dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors; linagliptin; meta-analysis; metformin; saxagliptin; sitagliptin; type 2 diabetes mellitus; vildagliptin.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fasting
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / blood
  • Hypoglycemia / chemically induced*
  • Hypoglycemia / prevention & control
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Metformin / adverse effects
  • Metformin / pharmacology*
  • Metformin / therapeutic use
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human
  • Metformin