Retrospective Observational Dose-Titration Study of Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Inadequate Glycemic Control on 15 mg of Pioglitazone / 임상당뇨병

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The 30 mg pioglitazone tablet was recently introduced in Korea; no study has yet compared its glucose-lowering or weight gain effects to the 15 mg tablet in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: The electronic medical records of 45 patients with T2DM with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels > 7.0%, despite taking 15 mg/day pioglitazone and a stable dose of other diabetes drugs for 3 months, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: After dose up-titration, HbA1c levels decreased at 3- and 6-month follow-ups compared with baseline (8.5% at baseline vs. 8.2% at 3 months vs. 7.9% at 6 months; baseline vs. 3 months, P = 0.106; baseline vs. 6 months, P = 0.005; 3 months vs. 6 months, P = 0.096). In the subgroup analysis of 36 patients taking pioglitazone, sulfonylurea, and metformin, HbA1c levels also decreased at 3- and 6-month follow-ups compared with baseline (8.5 % vs. 8.2 % vs. 7.9%; baseline vs. 3 months, P = 0.289; baseline vs. 6 months, P = 0.014; 3 months vs. 6 months, P = 0.232). There was no significant body weight change (70.8 kg vs. 70.7 kg vs. 71.0 kg). CONCLUSION: Up-titrating from 15 mg to 30 mg of pioglitazone in patients with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c > 9%) who were also taking sulfonylurea and metformin showed additive glucose-lowering effects without significant weight gain in Korean patients with T2DM.