Assessment of effect modification of statins on new-onset diabetes based on various medical backgrounds: a retrospective cohort study

LDL Reduction and Risk of Diabetes in Veteran Statin Users

BACKGROUND

While statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, there is controversy regarding a potentially causal link with incident diabetes mellitus (DM). This association may partially be due to confounding by indication; since prescription guidelines encourage statin use among those diagnosed with DM, this may encourage their prescription among those with elevated blood glucose in the absence of DM diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

The study examined the association between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) reduction following initiation of statin use and new-onset DM among veterans.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Patients with a visit between January 2007 and December 2011 were selected from the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture system. Individuals were classified into categories of statin usage based on LDL reduction percentages and frequency-matched with controls. The primary outcome of interest was incident DM.

RESULTS

There was a significant association between LDL reduction and DM which was higher in lower LDL reduction groups (low response hazard ratio [HR]: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.62, 2.79; moderate response HR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.40, 2.45; high response HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.74, 2.07).

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

This association may partially be explained by potential lifestyle modifications individuals may make when prescribed a statin which may reduce their risk of DM independent of the statin usage. This research has demonstrated a protective association between greater LDL reduction and DM at the individual level while reenforcing the evidence of an association between statin usage and DM.

Predictors of the effectiveness of insulin pumps in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

Insulin pump therapy has become the preferential treatment for type 1 diabetes (T1D) as it mimics the physiological secretion of insulin better than multiple daily injections. However, not all patients improve with insulin pump therapy. This study aims to determine the predictors of the effectiveness of insulin pumps in T1D.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients who started insulin pumps. Data from four timepoints (before, at 6, 12, and 36 months) were evaluated for outcomes of glycemic control and safety. The association of baseline predictors with outcomes was analyzed using linear and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

We evaluated 136 patients (57.4% females, age 36 ± 12 years, duration of T1D 14 ± 9 years). During the follow-up, there was a mean decrease of HbA1c of 0.9 ± 1.2%. The improvement in HbA1c was independent of sex, age, and duration of T1D. Higher baseline HbA1c, family history of diabetes, and not being treated with statins were predictors of improvement in HbA1c. Not being treated with statins and higher baseline HbA1c predicted improvement in HbA1c without worsening hypoglycemia. History of hypoglycemia was a predictor of severe hypoglycemia. Family history, higher baseline HbA1c, and psychological/psychiatric disorders were predictors of ketoacidosis.

CONCLUSION

Benefits of insulin pump were independent of sex, age, and duration of T1D. Baseline HbA1c, family history of diabetes, treatment with statins, history of hypoglycemia, and psychological/psychiatric disorders were predictors of outcomes, and may allow the identification of patients who benefit most from insulin pump therapy or who are at increased risk of complications.

Comparison of pleiotropic effects of statins vs fibrates on laboratory parameters in patients with dyslipidemia: A retrospective cohort study

Differences in the mechanism of action and potential pleiotropic effects between statins and fibrates would potentially drive a different effect on various laboratory parameters, but this remains controversial because of a paucity of reports comparing them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of statins and fibrates on laboratory parameters in Japanese patients in routine clinical practice.This retrospective cohort study included patients with dyslipidemia who had been newly treated with statin or fibrate monotherapy between January 2005 and December 2017. Patients were randomly matched into two sets of pairs by sex, age, and baseline triglyceride (TG) or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level. The 830 patients in TG-matched pairs (415 fibrate users and 415 matched statin users) and 1172 patients in LDL cholesterol-matched pairs (586 fibrate users and 586 matched statin users) were included in this study. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the effects of the drugs on serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urea nitrogen, hemoglobin A1c, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), in addition to LDL cholesterol and TG levels, and red blood cell (RBC) and platelet (PLT) counts, up to 12 months after the start of study drug administration.In TG-matched pairs, the increases in creatinine and urea nitrogen levels (P = .010 and P < .001, respectively) and the decreases in eGFR, ALT level and RBC count (P < .001, P = .003, and P = .014, respectively) were greater in fibrate users than in statin users. The decrease in PLT count was greater in statin users than in fibrate users (P < .001). The mean changes in aspartate aminotransferase and hemoglobin A1c levels were not significantly different between statin users and fibrate users. In LDL cholesterol-matched pairs, the differences in changes of all laboratory parameter levels between statin users and fibrate users were similar to those in TG-matched pairs.We demonstrate here that fibrates have a greater effect of increasing creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and of reducing eGFR, ALT level, and RBC count than statins, and that the lowering effect on PLT count is greater with statins than with fibrates.

Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Lower LDL Cholesterol and Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk in the UK Biobank

Although hyperlipidemia is traditionally considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D), evidence has emerged from statin trials and candidate gene investigations suggesting that lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) increases T2D risk. We thus sought to more comprehensively examine the phenotypic and genotypic relationships of LDL-C with T2D. Using data from the UK Biobank, we found that levels of circulating LDL-C were negatively associated with T2D prevalence (odds ratio 0.41 [95% CI 0.39, 0.43] per mmol/L unit of LDL-C), despite positive associations of circulating LDL-C with HbA_1c and BMI. We then performed the first genome-wide exploration of variants simultaneously associated with lower circulating LDL-C and increased T2D risk, using data on LDL-C from the UK Biobank (n = 431,167) and the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (n = 188,577), and data on T2D from the Diabetes Genetics Replication and Meta-Analysis consortium (n = 898,130). We identified 31 loci associated with lower circulating LDL-C and increased T2D, capturing several potential mechanisms. Seven of these loci have previously been identified for this dual phenotype, and nine have previously been implicated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. These findings extend our current understanding of the higher T2D risk among individuals with low circulating LDL-C and of the underlying mechanisms, including those responsible for the diabetogenic effect of LDL-C-lowering medications.

Statins are associated with new onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Medicare patients ≥65 years

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the association of statins and co-morbidities with new onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients 65 years and older.

METHODS

This retrospective study used de-identified administrative healthcare claims and enrolment data from a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) health plan offered by a large multistate healthcare company. The plan covered >2.4 million individuals, of whom >1.7 million individuals were ≥65 years. Of these, 265 554 individuals had continuous MAPD enrolment January 2008 to December 2015. The unadjusted model assessed demographic, pharmacy and T2DM co-morbidities as covariates. Significant variables (P < .05) in the unadjusted model were then included in the adjusted model. The adjusted model used Cox proportional hazards to evaluate covariate effects. Matched propensity score analysis was used to analyse the association of statins and T2DM onset.

RESULTS

The cumulative rate of diagnosed T2DM onset in the study cohort was 4.82% (4314/89 390). Annualised incidence of T2DM diagnosis was 0.82%, 0.88%, 1.04% and 2.09% in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. T2DM onset was associated with male sex, non-white (African American or Hispanic ethnicity), statin use, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, heart failure, lower limb ulceration, atherosclerosis, other retinopathy, angina pectoris, poor vision and blindness and absence ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Matched propensity score analysis showed that statin use was significantly associated with T2DM onset (Odds Ratio = 1.26, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.12-1.41, P < .0001) in the adjusted model.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses indicated that statin usage was associated with new onset T2DM after adjusting for covariates.

Comparative effect of dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors on laboratory parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects on laboratory parameters among monotherapy with five DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

We identified cohorts of new sitagliptin users (n = 879), vildagliptin users (n = 253), teneligliptin users (n = 260), alogliptin users (n = 237), and linagliptin users (n = 180) in patients with type 2 DM. We used a multivariate regression model to evaluate and compare the effects of the drugs on laboratory parameters including HbA1c concentration and serum concentrations of creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, high density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase among the five DPP-4 inhibitors up to 12 months.

Results

Our study showed a favorable effect on HbA1c concentration and a slightly unfavorable effect on serum creatinine concentration in users of the five DPP-4 inhibitors, a favorable effect on lipid metabolism in sitagliptin, vildagliptin, and alogliptin users, and a favorable effect on hepatic parameters in sitagliptin, alogliptin, and linagliptin users, in comparison of the baseline and exposure periods. However, there was no significant difference in mean change in the concentration of any laboratory parameter among the five groups of DPP-4 inhibitor users.

Conclusions

In this study, we showed the effect of five DPP-4 inhibitors on glycemic, renal, and lipid metabolism, and hepatic parameters. DPP-4 inhibitors are well-tolerated hypoglycemic drugs.