Short-term effectiveness of dapagliflozin versus DPP-4 inhibitors in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a multicentre retrospective study

Abstract Aim To compare efectiveness of dapaglifozin versus DPP-4 inhibitors on individualized HbA1c targets and extra-glycaemic endpoints among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods This was a multicentre retrospective study on patients aged 70–80 years with HbA1c above individualized target and starting dapaglifozin or DPP-4 inhibitors in 2015–2017. The primary outcome was the proportion reaching individualized HbA1c targets. Confounding by indication was addressed by inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), multivariable adjustment (MVA), or propensity score matching (PSM). Results Patients initiating dapaglifozin (n=445) difered from those initiating DPP-4i (n=977) and balance between groups was achieved with IPTW or PSM. The median follow-up was 7.5 months and baseline HbA1c was 8.3%. A smaller proportion of patients initiating dapaglifozin attained individualized HbA1c target as compared to those initiating DPP-4 inhibitors (RR 0.73, p<0.0001). IPTW, MVA, and PSM yielded similar results. Between-group diference in the primary outcome was observed among patients with lower eGFR or longer disease duration. Dapaglifozin allowed greater reductions in body weight and blood pressure than DPP-4 inhibitors. Conclusions Elderly patients with T2D initiating dapaglifozin had a lower probability of achieving individualized HbA1c targets than those initiating DPP-4 inhibitors but displayed better improvements in extra-glycaemic endpoints.