Table 2.
Baseline patient characteristics of metformin‐based triple regimen users
| Triple therapy cohort | Before PS matching | After PS matching | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Met + SU + DPP4i (n = 17 180) |
Met + SU + DPP4i (n = 10 475) | 1:1 matched Met + SU + TZDs |
Met + SU + DPP4i (n = 11 248) |
1:1 matched Met + SU + AC |
Met + SU + DPP4i (n = 3008) |
1:1 matched Met + SU + MG | |
| Person‐years (mean) | – | 3.32 | 3.60 | 3.29 | 3.43 | 3.20 | 3.38 |
| Age (mean ± SD) | 57.7 ± 11.5 | 57.0 ± 11.1 | 56.9 ± 11.6 | 58.0 ± 11.9 | 58.0 ± 11.7 | 60.0 ± 12.3 | 59.6 ± 11.9 |
| Male (%) | 53.49 | 55.04 | 54.30 | 54.99 | 55.07 | 54.36 | 54.79 |
| Comorbidity history | |||||||
| Hypertension (%) | 61.36 | 60.48 | 60.76 | 60.34 | 60.57 | 64.33 | 63.66 |
| Hyperlipidaemia (%) | 59.62 | 61.88 | 61.98 | 57.10 | 56.90 | 51.80 | 52.03 |
| Stroke (%) | 8.44 | 5.50 | 5.86 | 8.47 | 8.77 | 12.70 | 12.30 |
| Heart failure (%) | 2.65 | 1.56 | 1.57 | 2.70 | 2.78 | 4.69 | 4.26 |
| CAD (%) | 16.12 | 12.53 | 12.53 | 15.23 | 15.50 | 18.42 | 17.85 |
| CCI (mean ± SD) | 3.0 ± 1.4 | 3.0 ± 1.3 | 3.0 ± 1.4 | 3.1 ± 1.5 | 3.1 ± 1.5 | 3.5 ± 1.8 | 3.5 ± 1.9 |
| aDCSI (mean ± SD) | 1.0 ± 1.4 | 0.8 ± 1.2 | 0.8 ± 1.2 | 0.9 ± 1.5 | 0.9 ± 1.4 | 1.3 ± 2.0 | 1.3 ± 1.8 |
| Diabetes duration (years) | 6.1 ± 3.2 | 5.4 ± 3.2 | 5.4 ± 3.2 | 5.3 ± 3.3 | 5.3 ± 3.2 | 5.3 ± 3.2 | 5.2 ± 3.3 |
| Metformin duration (years) (mean ± SD) | 4.7 ± 3.0 | 4.1 ± 2.9 | 4.1 ± 2.9 | 3.9 ± 2.9 | 4.0 ± 2.8 | 3.9 ± 2.9 | 3.8 ± 2.8 |
| SU duration (years) (mean ± SD) | 5.1 ± 3.1 | 4.6 ± 3.1 | 4.6 ± 3.1 | 4.3 ± 3.1 | 4.4 ± 3.0 | 4.5 ± 3.1 | 4.4 ± 3.1 |
| Medication history | |||||||
| α‐blocker (%) | 3.86 | 2.91 | 2.90 | 3.81% | 3.98 | 4.92 | 4.69 |
| β‐blocker (%) | 20.27 | 18.00 | 17.66 | 19.64% | 19.67 | 19.78 | 20.68 |
| Diuretics (%) | 13.45 | 14.34 | 14.57 | 15.50% | 15.39 | 20.08 | 18.52 |
| CCB (%) | 34.51 | 36.04 | 35.70 | 36.43% | 36.21 | 40.39 | 40.86 |
| AECI/ARB (%) | 53.29 | 45.20 | 45.03 | 46.96% | 47.36 | 46.04 | 45.05 |
| Lipid‐lowering agent (%) | 55.06 | 52.69 | 52.49 | 48.95% | 48.67 | 43.85 | 43.55 |
| Antiplatelet agent (%) | 34.33 | 29.15 | 29.11 | 32.41% | 32.62 | 36.24 | 36.10 |
| Nitrates (%) | 4.89 | 2.60 | 2.80 | 4.19% | 4.17 | 5.39 | 4.92 |
| Anticoagulant (%) | 0.87 | 0.45 | 0.47 | 0.67% | 0.73 | 1.13 | 1.03 |
| Digoxin (%) | 1.70 | 1.24 | 1.31 | 1.77 | 1.80 | 2.13 | 1.96 |
Baseline patient characteristics were measured one year prior to the third‐line antidiabetic drug being added (index date). No statistical difference in baseline patient characteristics between each type of triple regimen and their PS‐matched referents. Diabetes duration: from diabetes diagnosis to the beginning of triple antidiabetic therapy
Baseline patient characteristics were measured 1 year prior to the second‐line antidiabetic drug being added (index date). Diabetes duration: from diabetes diagnosis to the beginning of dual antidiabetic therapy
ACA, acarbose; ACEI/ARB, angiotensin II‐converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker; aDCSI, adapted diabetes complication severity index; CAD, coronary artery diseases; CCB, calcium channel blocker; CCI, Charlson Comorbidity Index; DPP4i, dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor; MEG, meglitinide; Met, metformin; PS matching, propensity score 1:1 matching using the nearest neighbour technique; SD, standard deviation SU, sulphonylurea; TZD, thiazolidinedione