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Metformin and Thiazolidinedione Use in Medicare Patients With Heart Failure

Frederick A. Masoudi, Yongfei Wang, Silvio E. Inzucchi, John Francis Setaro, Edward P. Havranek, JoAnne Micale Foody, Harlan M. Krumholz

JAMA, 2003

13 participants · 133 citations

Abstract

CONTEXT: According to package inserts, metformin is contraindicated in diabetic patients receiving drug treatment for heart failure therapy, and thiazolidinediones are not recommended in diabetic patients with symptoms of advanced heart failure. Little is known about patterns of use of these antihyperglycemic drugs in diabetic patients with heart failure. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportions of patients hospitalized with heart failure and concomitant diabetes treated with metformin or thiazolidinediones. DESIGN: Serial cross-sectional measurements using data from retrospective medical record abstraction. SETTING: Nongovernmental acute care hospitals in the United States. PATIENTS: Two nationally representative samples of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with the primary diagnosis of heart failure and concomitant diabetes between April 1998 and March 1999 and between July 2000 and June 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prescription of either metformin or a thiazolidinedione at hospital discharge. RESULTS: In the 1998-1999 sample (n = 12 505), 7.1% of patients were discharged with a prescription for metformin, 7.2% with a prescription for a thiazolidinedione, and 13.5% with a prescription for either drug. In the 2000-2001 sample (n = 13 158), metformin use increased to 11.2%, thiazolidinedione use to 16.1%, and use of either drug to 24.4% (P<.001 for all comparisons). Similar increases were seen among patients of all age groups, all races, and both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: The…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 13 participants or records.

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