Clinical and epidemiological evaluation of type 2 diabetic patients treated with extended-release metformin. EpiDiaMet Study
Abstract
Introduction. Optimal metabolic control is crucial for the prevention of diabetic complications, considered one of the most important problems of current medicine. Aims of the work: 1. epidemiological assessment of type 2 diabetic patients treated with extended-release metformin; 2. assessment of parameters for diabetes control after a 3-month observation, during which physicians treated patients according to local practice; 3. comparison with other epidemiological analyses, ARETAEUS1 and OPTIMO completed in Poland in the last years. Material and methods. A total of 1767 type 2 diabetic patients with poor metabolic control, treated with extended-release metformin, who presented in a general practitioner office for routine control visit (15 consecutive patients) were included. Mean age (± SD) was 59 ± 11 years, mean diabetes duration 5 ± 7 years. Data on metabolic control and diabetic complications were collected at baseline and after 3 months, using a specific questionnaire. Data were compared to ARETAEUS1 and OPTIMO analyses. Results. After 3 months observation glycated hemoglobin decreased from 7.58 ± 3.14 to 7.38 ± 8.49 (p < 0.02). Blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) decreased from 138 ± 18/85 ± 22 to 130 ± 34/80 ± 10 mm Hg (p < 0.001). Statistically significant (p < 0.001) improvements in lipids parameters were also recorded: baseline mean (± SD) total cholesterol level decreased: before 5.67 ± 2.24 and after 5.19 ± 3.42 mmol/l; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level decreased: before 3.47 ± 1.79 and after 3.11 ± 2.00 mmol/l; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level increased from 1.23 ± 0.38 to 1.30 ± 0.36 mmol/l. At baseline 14% of patients received a high dose (2000 mg or higher) of extended release metformin and after 3 months of observation the percentage rose to 34%. Conclusions. The reported EpiDiaMet study, conducted in type 2 diabetic patients with short duration of diabetes, treated with extended-release metformin indicates the need for treatment intensification and maximization of metformin doses.
Keywords: type 2 diabetesmetabolic controlextended-release metformin (XR)