Study finds common type 2 diabetes drug tied to increased heart risk
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New Delhi: Glipizide, a commonly prescribed type 2 diabetes drug in the US, may be associated with a higher risk of heart-related complications, a new study has suggested.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham analyzed nationwide data from nearly 50,000 patients receiving different sulfonylurea medications. They found that glipizide use was linked to increased rates of heart failure, hospitalization and death compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
“Patients with type 2 diabetes are at heightened risk of adverse cardiovascular incidents such as stroke and cardiac arrest,” said Alexander Turchin, the study’s corresponding author from the Division of Endocrinology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
He noted that while sulfonylureas are popular and affordable, long-term data on their impact on heart health remain limited compared with alternatives like DPP-4 inhibitors.
The study tracked 48,165 patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate cardiovascular risk who were treated at 10 sites across the US. It examined the five-year risk of major cardiovascular events in patients using sulfonylureas (glimepiride, glipizide or glyburide) or DPP-4 inhibitors alongside metformin.
Results showed that glipizide was linked to a 13 per cent higher cardiovascular risk than DPP-4 inhibitors. Glimepiride and glyburide showed smaller and less conclusive effects.
“Our study underscores the importance of evaluating each drug in a particular pharmacological class on its own merits,” Turchin said.
The researchers called for further studies to explore the underlying mechanisms.
