Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications
Volume 25, Issue 3 , Pages 143-150, May 2011

Impact of thiazolidinedione safety warnings on medication use patterns and glycemic control among veterans with diabetes mellitus☆☆

  • Lizheng Shi

      Affiliations

    • School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University
    • School of Medicine, Tulane University
    • Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 1900, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112. Tel.: +1 504 988 6548.
  • ,
  • Yingnan Zhao

      Affiliations

    • School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University
    • Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
  • ,
  • Keith Szymanski

      Affiliations

    • Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, USA
  • ,
  • Lillian Yau

      Affiliations

    • School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University
    • Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
  • ,
  • Vivian Fonseca

      Affiliations

    • School of Medicine, Tulane University
    • Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

Received 23 February 2010; received in revised form 9 May 2010; accepted 23 June 2010. published online 13 August 2010.

Abstract 

Aims

In 2007, safety warnings were publicized regarding the association between thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and cardiovascular risks. This study investigated the impact of the publicized safety warnings on glycemic outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials and Methods

The Veterans Integrated Services Network 16 database included 13,293 DM patients using TZDs (n=13,037 rosiglitazone, n=246 pioglitazone, n=10 both) during a baseline period of 03/01/07 to 05/31/07. Three medication use patterns groups (09/01/07 to 11/30/07) were defined as follows: (1) continuation on TZD treatment, (2) switching to other non-TZD treatment, (3) discontinuation of TZD treatment without any antidiabetic treatment. Primary outcome (09/01/07 to 02/29/08) was change from baseline in A1c. The analysis of variance was used to test the association between use patterns and A1c change. A logistic regression model was used to identify the predictors for use patterns.

Results

Patients (45.1%, n=5999) discontinued their TZD use. Both Groups 2 and 3 had significant A1c increases (both P values <.0001). Significant predictors for TZD discontinuation included black race, baseline heart disease, and diabetic complication [odds ratio (OR), 1.43; OR, 1.54; OR, 1.30, respectively]. Of the patients remaining on TZD therapy, 11.8% experienced improved A1c levels, and a lower percentage of patients (9.53%) experienced a deterioration in A1c levels (P<.0001). Patients who switched or discontinued an antidiabetic medication experienced improvements in body mass index (P<.0001) and triglycerides (P<.0036). The three use pattern groups had similar changes with regard to blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein.

Conclusion

Thiazolidinedione safety warnings may have negatively impacted the glycemic control in DM patients.

Keywords: Thiazolidinedione, Glycemic control, Diabetes mellitus

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 Shi, Yau, Fonseca, and Zhao are also WOC employees/investigators for the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. Shi has received research support (to Tulane) from Eli Lilly, Takeda, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. Fonseca has received research support (to Tulane) from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Novo-Nordisk, Takeda, Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer, Sanofi- Aventis, Eli Lilly, Daiichi-Sankyo, National Institutes of Health, and the American Diabetes Association; Fonseca has also received honoraria for consulting and lectures from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Takeda, Novo-Nordisk, Sanofi- Aventis, Eli Lilly, and Daiichi Sankyo. Fonseca is currently the chair of a data monitoring committee for a clinical trial sponsored by Takeda. Dr. Keith Szymanski is a clinical science and outcomes manager in the medical affairs division of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

☆☆ Data analysis was performed primarily by Ms. Zhao, and data interpretation was performed by all authors. Drs. Shi and Fonseca wrote the manuscript with assistance from Dr. Szymanski. All authors contributed to the revisions of the manuscript.

PII: S1056-8727(10)00068-1

doi:10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2010.06.003

Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications
Volume 25, Issue 3 , Pages 143-150, May 2011