Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence study

BackgroundIn this study, we investigated the association of long-term use of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).MethodsThis study was a secondary analysis based on the nationwide database from 2008 to 2022 in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yu-Ching Li, Yu-Hsiang Kuan, Yih Yang, Shuo-Yan Gau, Kun-Yu Su, Tung-Han Tsai, Kuang-Hua Huang, Chien-Ying Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1518545/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849725892292509696
author Yu-Ching Li
Yu-Ching Li
Yu-Hsiang Kuan
Yu-Hsiang Kuan
Yih Yang
Shuo-Yan Gau
Kun-Yu Su
Tung-Han Tsai
Kuang-Hua Huang
Chien-Ying Lee
Chien-Ying Lee
author_facet Yu-Ching Li
Yu-Ching Li
Yu-Hsiang Kuan
Yu-Hsiang Kuan
Yih Yang
Shuo-Yan Gau
Kun-Yu Su
Tung-Han Tsai
Kuang-Hua Huang
Chien-Ying Lee
Chien-Ying Lee
author_sort Yu-Ching Li
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIn this study, we investigated the association of long-term use of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).MethodsThis study was a secondary analysis based on the nationwide database from 2008 to 2022 in Taiwan. Patients with new-onset DM who were treated with either a DPP-4i or sulfonylurea from 2009 to 2017 were included in this study. Patients who received a DPP-4i were included in the case group and further divided on the basis of the cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) as follows: ≤90, 91–180, 181–300, and >300 cDDD. Propensity score matching was performed to select patients who used a sulfonylurea, and these patients were assigned to the control group. With adjustment for sex, age, income, urbanization level, comorbidities, and other anti-diabetic agents, the Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the risk of DR associated with DPP-4i use over the 5-year follow-up.ResultsThere were 83,503 patients with DPP-4i use and 167,006 patients with sulfonylurea use after matching. Compared with patients with sulfonylurea use, patients with DPP-4i use at ≤90 cDDD had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38–1.49) for DR development, whereas those with DPP-4i use at 91–180, 181–300 or >300 cDDD had HRs of 1.66 (95% CI: 1.59–1.74), 1.82 (95% CI: 1.74–1.90), and 2.32 (95% CI: 1.91–2.82) for DR development, respectively. Of the different DPP-4is, linagliptin at ≤90 or 181–300 was associated with the highest risk of DR. Significant differences were discovered at ≤90, 91–181, and 181–300 cDDD in the risk of DR between patients using Saxagliptin versus sitagliptin. Vildagliptin at ≤90 or 91–180 cDDD was associated with an increased risk of DR, but not at 181–300 cDDD.ConclusionIn patients with DM, DPP-4i at ≤90, 91–180, 181–300 and >300 cDDD was linked to an increased risk of DR over the 5-year follow-up. Sitagliptin at cDDD 181–300 was associated with the greatest DR risk. The potential for DPP-4i to accelerate DR progression should be considered.
format Article
id doaj-art-324ee3a5f23146e2a537aa49ee40e9c6
institution DOAJ
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-324ee3a5f23146e2a537aa49ee40e9c62025-08-20T03:10:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-04-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15185451518545Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence studyYu-Ching Li0Yu-Ching Li1Yu-Hsiang Kuan2Yu-Hsiang Kuan3Yih Yang4Shuo-Yan Gau5Kun-Yu Su6Tung-Han Tsai7Kuang-Hua Huang8Chien-Ying Lee9Chien-Ying Lee10Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, TaiwanDivision of Family Medicine, Yuan Rung Hospital, Changhua, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacy, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Surgery, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, TaiwanDepartment of Business Administration, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanSchool of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacy, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, TaiwanBackgroundIn this study, we investigated the association of long-term use of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).MethodsThis study was a secondary analysis based on the nationwide database from 2008 to 2022 in Taiwan. Patients with new-onset DM who were treated with either a DPP-4i or sulfonylurea from 2009 to 2017 were included in this study. Patients who received a DPP-4i were included in the case group and further divided on the basis of the cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) as follows: ≤90, 91–180, 181–300, and >300 cDDD. Propensity score matching was performed to select patients who used a sulfonylurea, and these patients were assigned to the control group. With adjustment for sex, age, income, urbanization level, comorbidities, and other anti-diabetic agents, the Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the risk of DR associated with DPP-4i use over the 5-year follow-up.ResultsThere were 83,503 patients with DPP-4i use and 167,006 patients with sulfonylurea use after matching. Compared with patients with sulfonylurea use, patients with DPP-4i use at ≤90 cDDD had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38–1.49) for DR development, whereas those with DPP-4i use at 91–180, 181–300 or >300 cDDD had HRs of 1.66 (95% CI: 1.59–1.74), 1.82 (95% CI: 1.74–1.90), and 2.32 (95% CI: 1.91–2.82) for DR development, respectively. Of the different DPP-4is, linagliptin at ≤90 or 181–300 was associated with the highest risk of DR. Significant differences were discovered at ≤90, 91–181, and 181–300 cDDD in the risk of DR between patients using Saxagliptin versus sitagliptin. Vildagliptin at ≤90 or 91–180 cDDD was associated with an increased risk of DR, but not at 181–300 cDDD.ConclusionIn patients with DM, DPP-4i at ≤90, 91–180, 181–300 and >300 cDDD was linked to an increased risk of DR over the 5-year follow-up. Sitagliptin at cDDD 181–300 was associated with the greatest DR risk. The potential for DPP-4i to accelerate DR progression should be considered.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1518545/fulldiabetic retinopathydipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitorsdiabetes mellituscumulative defined daily dosereal-world evidence
spellingShingle Yu-Ching Li
Yu-Ching Li
Yu-Hsiang Kuan
Yu-Hsiang Kuan
Yih Yang
Shuo-Yan Gau
Kun-Yu Su
Tung-Han Tsai
Kuang-Hua Huang
Chien-Ying Lee
Chien-Ying Lee
Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence study
Frontiers in Pharmacology
diabetic retinopathy
dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors
diabetes mellitus
cumulative defined daily dose
real-world evidence
title Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence study
title_full Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence study
title_fullStr Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence study
title_full_unstemmed Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence study
title_short Association of long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a real-world evidence study
title_sort association of long term use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors with the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus a real world evidence study
topic diabetic retinopathy
dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors
diabetes mellitus
cumulative defined daily dose
real-world evidence
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1518545/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yuchingli associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT yuchingli associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT yuhsiangkuan associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT yuhsiangkuan associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT yihyang associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT shuoyangau associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT kunyusu associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT tunghantsai associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT kuanghuahuang associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT chienyinglee associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy
AT chienyinglee associationoflongtermuseofdipeptidylpeptidase4inhibitorswiththeriskofdiabeticretinopathyinpatientswithdiabetesmellitusarealworldevidencestudy