Efficacy and safety of incretin-based drugs in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS

In patients with type 2 diabetes, incretin-based therapies can improve glucose control without increased weight gain or hypoglycemia. Incretin-based drugs added to insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) have also been tried in many studies. However, the results were controversial. We thus performed a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of incretin-based therapies in patients with T1DM.

METHODS

We systematically searched Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant studies published before August 25, 2016. Data was extracted by two independent reviewers. The main outcomes included glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin dose, weight, hypoglycemia, ketosis and ketoacidosis. All pooled data were assessed using random-effects model.

RESULTS

Twelve randomized controlled trials with a total of 2903 individuals were finally included into the meta-analysis. Incretin-based drugs could significantly reduce HbA1c (MD -0.20, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.10), weight (MD -2.83, 95% CI -4.00 to -1.65) and insulin dose (MD -4.55, 95% CI -6.15 to -2.94). Furthermore, incretin-based drugs did not increase relative risk of severe hypoglycemia (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.06), ketosis (RR 1.37, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.97) and ketoacidosis (RR 2.62, 95% CI 0.31 to 21.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Incretin-based treatment in patients with T1DM may improve glycemic control and reduce insulin dose and weight without increasing the risk of serious adverse event, such as severe hypoglycemia, ketosis or ketoacidosis. The current evidence for the aforementioned adverse effects, however, is weak. A rigorous monitoring of these adverse events should be implemented in well-designed observational studies.