Sitagliptin for Elderly Patients Aged 75 Years or Older with Inadequately Controlled Type 2 Diabetes with Common Antidiabetes Treatments

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sitagliptin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes aged 75 years or older versus those aged 65 - 74 years. Methods: Outpatients aged 65 years or older with type 2 diabetes who received sitagliptin at a dose of 50 mg daily for 6 months were divided into two groups: those who were 75 years and older and those who were 65 - 74 years. The efficacy and safety were retrospectively evaluated by comparison of laboratory values before and after the administration of sitagliptin and by review of adverse events after treatment. Results: One hundred and twelve older patients with type 2 diabetes were studied. Six months after the initiation of sitagliptin, participants’ hemoglobin A1c was significantly decreased by 1.09% ± 0.8% in 65 - 74-year-olds (66 patients; mean age, 69.1 ± 3.0 years; mean HbA1c before administration, 8.4% ± 0.8%) and by 1.05% ± 0.8% in patients 75 years or older (46 patients; mean age, 79.8 ± 4.1 years; mean HbA1c before administration, 8.5% ± 0.7%). There was no significant difference in hemoglobin A1c between the two groups. Furthermore, sitagliptin was well tolerated in both age groups. Conclusions: In elderly patients (75 years or older) with type 2 diabetes, the effect of sitagliptin was similar that in older patients (younger than 75 years) with type 2 diabetes.