TY - JOUR
T1 - Metformin use in type 2 diabetic patients is not associated with lower arterial stiffness
T2 - the Maastricht Study
AU - Driessen, Johanna H M
AU - de Vries, Frank
AU - van Onzenoort, Hein A W
AU - Schram, Miranda T
AU - van der Kallen, Carla
AU - Reesink, Koen D
AU - Sep, Simone
AU - Stehouwer, Coen D A
AU - Schaper, Nicolaas
AU - Kroon, A A
AU - Schalkwijk, Casper
AU - van den Bergh, Joop P W
AU - Henry, Ronald M A
PY - 2019/2
Y1 - 2019/2
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with cardiovascular disease complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke. These complications are at least partially the consequence of diabetes-associated increased arterial stiffness. Metformin, a first choice oral glucose-lowering drug, has been associated with potential cardio-protective effects. However, there are no data on the association between real-life metformin use and arterial stiffness. The objective of the current study is to investigate in a population-based sample of individuals with T2D the association between metformin use and aortic stiffness (i.e. carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, cfPWV) and carotid stiffness [i.e. carotid distensibility coefficient and Young's elastic modulus (YEM)].METHODS: We used data from The Maastricht Study, an ongoing observational prospective population-based cohort study (current N = 3451). All participants with T2D, based on pharmacy records (N = 672, 31.3% women, mean age 62.6 ± 7.7), were included in the current study. Linear regression analyses were used to study the association between current metformin use and cfPWV, distensibility coefficient and YEM, as compared with no metformin use. Furthermore, metformin use was stratified by cumulative dose (in grams), continuous duration of use (in days), average daily dose (in grams) and time since first prescription (in years). Regression coefficients of distensibility coefficient were multiplied by -1, consequently, for all arterial stiffness indices, a positive regression coefficient signifies increasing arterial stiffness.RESULTS: Linear regression showed that neither current metformin use was associated with cfPWV [adjusted B: -0.04 (-0.11 to 0.02)] nor metformin use was as stratified by cumulative dose, by continuous duration of use, by average daily dose or by time since first prescription. Metformin use was statistically significantly associated with higher carotid stiffness as assessed by distensibility coefficient [0.12 (0.01 to 0.23)], but not with YEM [0.10 (-0.03 to 0.22)]. However, there was no consistent pattern with the different stratifications of metformin use when further investigating the association with distensibility coefficient.CONCLUSION: We showed that there is no significant association between current metformin use and aortic stiffness, regardless of how metformin use in itself was defined. In addition, metformin use was not associated with a lower carotid stiffness. The present results showed no beneficial effect of metformin use, dosage or duration on arterial stiffness in middle-aged patients with T2D. Alternatively, metformin may exerts its cardio-protective effects via other pathways.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with cardiovascular disease complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke. These complications are at least partially the consequence of diabetes-associated increased arterial stiffness. Metformin, a first choice oral glucose-lowering drug, has been associated with potential cardio-protective effects. However, there are no data on the association between real-life metformin use and arterial stiffness. The objective of the current study is to investigate in a population-based sample of individuals with T2D the association between metformin use and aortic stiffness (i.e. carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, cfPWV) and carotid stiffness [i.e. carotid distensibility coefficient and Young's elastic modulus (YEM)].METHODS: We used data from The Maastricht Study, an ongoing observational prospective population-based cohort study (current N = 3451). All participants with T2D, based on pharmacy records (N = 672, 31.3% women, mean age 62.6 ± 7.7), were included in the current study. Linear regression analyses were used to study the association between current metformin use and cfPWV, distensibility coefficient and YEM, as compared with no metformin use. Furthermore, metformin use was stratified by cumulative dose (in grams), continuous duration of use (in days), average daily dose (in grams) and time since first prescription (in years). Regression coefficients of distensibility coefficient were multiplied by -1, consequently, for all arterial stiffness indices, a positive regression coefficient signifies increasing arterial stiffness.RESULTS: Linear regression showed that neither current metformin use was associated with cfPWV [adjusted B: -0.04 (-0.11 to 0.02)] nor metformin use was as stratified by cumulative dose, by continuous duration of use, by average daily dose or by time since first prescription. Metformin use was statistically significantly associated with higher carotid stiffness as assessed by distensibility coefficient [0.12 (0.01 to 0.23)], but not with YEM [0.10 (-0.03 to 0.22)]. However, there was no consistent pattern with the different stratifications of metformin use when further investigating the association with distensibility coefficient.CONCLUSION: We showed that there is no significant association between current metformin use and aortic stiffness, regardless of how metformin use in itself was defined. In addition, metformin use was not associated with a lower carotid stiffness. The present results showed no beneficial effect of metformin use, dosage or duration on arterial stiffness in middle-aged patients with T2D. Alternatively, metformin may exerts its cardio-protective effects via other pathways.
KW - carotid artery
KW - distensibility
KW - metformin use
KW - pulse wave velocity
U2 - 10.1097/HJH.0000000000001892
DO - 10.1097/HJH.0000000000001892
M3 - Article
C2 - 30640873
SN - 0263-6352
VL - 37
SP - 365
EP - 371
JO - Journal of Hypertension
JF - Journal of Hypertension
IS - 2
ER -