Efficacy of hypoglycemic treatment in type 2 diabetes stratified by age or diagnosed age: a meta-analysis

Aim: To compare the effects of blood glucose lowering regimens in groups of patients categorized by baseline age and diagnosed age.

Methods: Placebo-controlled randomized trials in type 2 diabetes patients with a study length ≥12 weeks were included.

Results: A total of 246 trials were included. HbA1c changes from baseline corrected by placebo were comparable in sulfonylurea treatment between older and younger patients’ groups (weighted mean difference (WMD), –1.28% vs –0.92%, p > 0.05). Treatment with metformin between groups resulted in a comparable change in HbA1c levels (WMD, –0.97% vs –1.23%, p > 0.05). Treatment with α–glucosidase inhibitor (WMD, –0.68% vs –0.67%, p > 0.05), treatment with thiazolidinedione (WMD, –0.74% vs –1.01%, p > 0.05), treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors (WMD, –0.67% vs –0.67%, p > 0.05), and treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors (WMD, –0.54% vs –0.67%, p > 0.05) between groups also resulted in comparable HbA1c changes. Treatment with GLP-1 analogs between groups in HbA1c changes were also comparable (p > 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that the baseline age or diagnosed age was not associated with the HbA1c changes from baseline.

Conclusion: In each hypoglycemic treatment, the baseline age or diagnosed age was not associated with the HbA1c changes from baseline.