Real-life comparison of DPP4-inhibitors with conventional oral antidiabetics as add-on therapy to metformin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: the HYPOCRAS study.

AIM

Despite half of all type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients being over 65 and treatment being complicated by an elevated risk of iatrogenic hypoglycaemia, information about antidiabetic treatment is scarce in this age group. This prospective observational study compares DPP4-inhibitors (DPP4-i) with conventional oral antidiabetic drugs (COAD) in the real-life treatment of elderly patients with T2DM uncontrolled on metformin alone.

METHODS

Two treatment cohorts (DPP4-i and COAD, constituted on the basis of the GP decision of add-on therapy at the 1st visit) were compared after 6months. The primary objective was to assess the incidence of hypoglycaemic episodes in relationship with glycaemic control assessed by HbA(1c) level.

RESULTS

Demographics and disease history were comparable between the two cohorts (DPP4-i, n=931 and COAD, n=257) at baseline. The incidence of hypoglycaemia/severe hypoglycaemia was significantly higher over 6months in the COAD cohort (20.1%/2.4% vs. 6.4%/0.1%; P<0.001) whereas similar improvements were observed in glycaemic control with HbA(1c) down from 7.9% to 7.0% (COAD) and 6.9% (DPP4-i). The 7% target was reached without hypoglycaemia in more patients in the DPP4-i than in COAD cohort (59.7% vs. 45.5%; P<0.001). Patients in both cohorts who experienced hypoglycaemia more frequently had a pre-existing diabetic complication. The COAD was more likely to be discontinued (6.6% vs. 1.6%; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This large cohort study of elderly T2DM patients in France shows that the incidence of hypoglycaemia was three times higher in patients prescribed a COAD versus a DPP4-i after 6months while both treatments induced satisfactory glycaemic control.