Table 1. Baseline characteristics of participants according treatment group [Mean ± SD or n (%) or median (interquartile range)].
| Characteristic | Diacerein (n = 36) |
Placebo (n = 36) |
P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 60.6 ±11.5 | 62.5 ±10.1 | 0.5 |
| Male gender | 19 (52.8) | 23 (63.9) | 0.3 |
| Years at school | 7.9 ±4.6 | 7.1 ±4.2 | 0.5 |
| Current or past smoking | 15 (41.7) | 12 (33.3) | 0.5 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 130.1 ±12.7 | 135.8±17.1 | 0.12 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 74.5 ±10.3 | 78.3 ±10.8 | 0.13 |
| Hypertension | 20 (55.6) | 19 (52.8) | 0.8 |
| Duration of diabetes (years) | 13.3 ±8.7 | 13.4 ±7.3 | 0.9 |
| Diabetic foot | 2 (5.6) | 5 (13.9) | 0.2 |
| Fasting glucose (mg/dL) | 145.4 ±68.3 | 141.1 ±75.0 | 0.8 |
| Glycated hemoglobin (%) | 9.0 ±1.2 | 8.9±1.2 | 0.6 |
| Lack of metabolic control | 23 (63.9) | 19 (52.8) | 0.3 |
| HOMA-IR* | 4.5 (3.1–7.0) | 3.7 (2.6–10.7) | 0.7 |
| Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (mg/g)* | 80.1 (37.5–162.2) | 92.9 (47.8–363.2) | 0.3 |
| Urinary albumin/creatinine ≥ 300 mg/g | 5 (13.9) | 9 (25.0) | 0.2 |
| Glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 70.5 ±21.1 | 63.1 ±19.5 | 0.13 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 1.1 ±0.3 | 1.2 ±0.3 | 0.06 |
| Use of oral hypoglycemic agents** | |||
| Sulfonylureas | 11 (30.6) | 16 (44.4) | 0.22 |
| Biguanides | 27 (75.0) | 33 (91.7) | 0.06 |
| Other antidiabetic drugs | 4 (11.1) | 4 (11.1) | 1.0 |
| Insulins | 25 (69.4) | 19 (52.8) | 0.15 |
| Lipid-lowering agents | 25 (69.4) | 34 (94.4) | 0.06 |
| Antihypertensive drugs** | |||
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor | 26 (72.2) | 20 (55.6) | 0.14 |
| Angiotensin receptor blocker | 12 (33.3) | 19 (52.8) | 0.10 |
HOMA-IR = Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance
* Analysis using Median (Md) and interquartile range (IQR: 25–75)
** Numbers exceed 100% due to simultaneous use of more than one agent.