No differences in mortality between users of pancreatic-specific and non-pancreatic-specific sulphonylureas: a cohort analysis

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2008 Apr;10(4):350-2. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2007.00833.x. Epub 2007 Dec 17.

Abstract

To assess whether users of pancreatic-specific sulphonylureas are at reduced risk of mortality and cardiovascular mortality compared with users of non-specific sulphonylureas, we conducted a cohort study in the population of Tayside, Scotland. We identified 3331 patients with type 2 diabetes who were newly treated with sulphonylureas between 1994 and 2001 and categorized them into those treated with only pancreatic-specific sulphonylureas and those treated with only non-specific sulphonylureas. The risks of mortality and cardiovascular mortality were compared in a survival analysis. There were 2914 patients treated with pancreatic-specific sulphonylureas only, of which 683 (23.4%) died. Of 186 patients treated with non-specific drugs only, 40 (21.5%) died. After adjusting for confounding factors, the adjusted risk ratios (with 95% CI) for mortality and cardiovascular mortality were 0.84 (0.61 to 1.17) and 0.81 (0.59 to 1.11) among the non-specific users compared with the pancreatic-specific users. This provides no evidence that there are differences between the two sulphonylureas types.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / mortality*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / classification
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreas / drug effects
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds / classification
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds