Efficacy and safety of sitagliptin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: 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. Results: 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 (<italic>P</italic> = 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%; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and in obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) patients (7.25% ± 0.90% to 6.86% ± 0.86%; <italic>P</italic> = 0.015); the changes in HbA1c were not significantly different between the lean and the obese groups (<italic>P</italic> = 0.943). Adverse events occurred in 12 patients (10.3%) aged ≥65 years, although there was no significant difference among the three age groups. Conclusions: Sitagliptin treatment offers elderly patients aged ≥65 years efficacious and safe reductions in HbA1c values regardless of BMI. <bold>Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 631–639</bold>. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]