Evidence Hub

Long-term efficacy of gliflozins versus gliptins for Type 2 Diabetes after metformin failure: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Zilli RW, Rached CDA, Silva FPD, Baena RC

Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992), 2020

2 citations

Abstract

After metformin failure in treatment for diabetes type 2, there is no trivial option for adjuvant medication. The last two oral class medications, gliflozins and gliptins, have different mechanisms of action but have never been compared in long run studies. The aim of the present meta-analysis is to assess the overall long-term efficacy of these drugs after metformin failure. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed, including all trials with a duration of over 2 years, comparing gliflozins or gliptins after metformin failure in type 2 diabetes. Data Sources: Pubmed (Medline), Embase, Lilacs, and the Cochrane Library from inception through July 2016 without language restrictions. The longest study period found in the literature was 4 years. We selected 1 article on empagliflozin, 1 on dapagliflozin, and 1 on saxagliptin with missing data. After one year of treatment, over 50% of the patients presented HbA1c > 7%. Efficacy rate after 4 years of empagliflozin (23%) was better than dapagliflozin (5%) and saxagliptin (7%); however, it presented statistically non-significant values for HbA1c (7.4 and 7.3% between gliflozins), and missing data for saxaglifozin. Nonetheless, empagliflozin performed better than glimepiride in the 4-year period (standardized mean difference SMD 0.4, confidence interval CI 95% 0.23 to 0.56). The failure of the secondary treatment using gliflozins occurs in less than one year of treatment (less than 50% of the patients presenting HbA1c > 7…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free