Efficacy and safety of sitagliptin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 188 patients were enrolled who had type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic profiles (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] ≥6.2%). Patients were assigned to one of three age groups (<65, 65-74 and ≥75 years) and received 50-100 mg of sitagliptin daily for 12 months. Changes in HbA1c classified by age and body mass index (BMI) were assessed in addition to physiological parameters. Mean HbA1c decreased significantly in all age groups (<65 years 8.01 ± 1.59% to 7.29 ± 1.23%; 65-74 years 7.61 ± 1.11% to 7.05 ± 0.99%; ≥75 years 7.21 ± 0.87% to 6.74 ± 0.96%). Reductions in HbA1c were not significantly different among age groups (P = 0.324). In older patients aged 65-74 years and ≥75 years, HbA1c decreased significantly in lean (BMI <25 kg/m2 ) patients (7.52 ± 1.10% to 6.99 ± 1.08%; P < 0.001) and in obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2 ) patients (7.25% ± 0.90% to 6.86% ± 0.86%; P = 0.015); the changes in HbA1c were not significantly different between the lean and the obese groups (P = 0.943). Adverse events occurred in 12 patients (10.3%) aged ≥65 years, although there was no significant difference among the three age groups. Sitagliptin treatment offers elderly patients aged ≥65 years efficacious and safe reductions in HbA1c values regardless of BMI. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 631-639.