Aim: to explore the possibility of metformin protective effect on frailty syndrome.
Methods: this was a case control study conducted in subjects' ≥60 years old who visited the Geriatrics and Diabetes outpatient clinic of Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital between March and June 2013. Diagnosis of frailty was established using the FI-40 item criteria. Statistical analysis was done with chi-square method for bivariate and logistic regression method in multivariate analysis, all data was accompanied with 95% confidence interval.
Results: frailty syndrome was found in 25% of subjects (n = 59), with median age of 72 years old (SD 6.27) and median of FI-40 item score was 0.18 (SD 0.085). Metformin was found to have a significant relationship with frailty syndrome in the elderly diabetics, which retained significant value after multivariate analysis (adjusted OR 0.043; 95% CI 0.019-0.099; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: metformin was shown to have protective effect against frailty syndrome in elderly diabetics.