Metformin-based oral antihyperglycemic combination therapy and risk of dementia in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: A population-based study.

INTRODUCTION

This study examined the association between metformin-based oral antihyperglycemic combination therapy and the risk of developing dementia in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from a random sample of 2,000,000 individuals in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 to 2018. A total of 44,073 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM were identified and categorized into four groups based on initial treatment: metformin (MET)-sulfonylureas (SU), MET-dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i), MET-thiazolidinedione (TZD), and MET-glinides. The participants were followed until December 2018.

RESULTS

The hazard ratio of MET-TZD was 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.94), of MET-DPP4i was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.52-0.79), and of MET-glinides was 1.14 (95% CI: 0.94-1.39).

DISCUSSION: The MET-DPP4i group had the lowest risk of dementia, followed by the MET-TZD group.

HIGHLIGHTS: Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients using metformin (MET)-glinides and MET-sulfonylureas are at an increased risk of dementia. The MET-glinides group had the highest risk of dementia. The MET-dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor group had the lowest risk of dementia, followed by the MET-thiazolidinedione group.