Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the comprehensive clinical efficacy of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4) inhibitors in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients and to evaluate whether there is a different response to treatment with different kinds of DPP-4 inhibitors in those patients.
Methods: Databases were systematically searched, and qualifying clinical studies of Chinese type 2 diabetes patients were included.
Results: A total of 30 studies were included. Treatment with saxagliptin resulted in a significantly greater change from baseline in HbA1c levels (weighted mean difference [WMD], -1.28%; 95% CI, -1.37% to -1.19%); treatment with sitagliptin led to a significantly greater change from baseline (WMD, -1.17%; 95% CI, -1.46% to -0.89%); treatment with vildagliptin was associated with a significantly greater change in HbA1c levels (WMD, -0.77%; 95% CI, -0.88% to -0.65%); treatment with linagliptin led to a significantly greater change (WMD, -0.84%; 95% CI, -0.92% to -0.75%); and treatment with alogliptin also led to a significantly greater change (WMD, -0.91%; 95% CI, -1.48% to -0.33%). In terms of body weight, treatment with saxagliptin was associated with no significant decreases in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (WMD, -0.17 kg, 95% CI, -4.26 to 3.92 kg). Treatment with sitagliptin and linagliptin was also associated with no significant changes in body weight (WMD, 0.16 and 0.11 kg, respectively, P > 0.05).
Conclusions: In Chinese type 2 diabetes patients, the efficacy of glucose control in all five kinds of DPP-4 inhibitor treatments was well confirmed, and no significant change in body weight was found.
Keywords: Chinese; Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor; Meta-analysis; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.