Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort study

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the association of metformin use with the risk of in-hospital mortality and prognosis in acute respiratory failure (ARF) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the MIMIC-IV database....

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Main Authors: Yunlin Yang, Jinfeng Liu, Yi Hou, Yuxun Wei, Liang Huang, Wei Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1584230/full
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author Yunlin Yang
Jinfeng Liu
Yi Hou
Yuxun Wei
Liang Huang
Liang Huang
Wei Wei
author_facet Yunlin Yang
Jinfeng Liu
Yi Hou
Yuxun Wei
Liang Huang
Liang Huang
Wei Wei
author_sort Yunlin Yang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the association of metformin use with the risk of in-hospital mortality and prognosis in acute respiratory failure (ARF) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the MIMIC-IV database. Patients were categorized into metformin and non-metformin groups based on medication exposure. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and ICU mortality, while 30-day and 90-day all-cause mortality served as secondary endpoints. We applied Kaplan–Meier survival curves, Cox proportional hazards models, and logistic regression to assess associations. Propensity score matching (PSM) and machine learning algorithms were used for confounder adjustment and feature selection.ResultsAfter PSM, 1,429 patients with ARF were included (374 metformin users; 1,055 non-users). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that metformin use was associated with significantly reduced in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.202, 95% CI: 0.123–0.317, p < 0.001) and ICU mortality (OR = 0.245, 95% CI: 0.142–0.399, p < 0.001). Cox models showed consistent reductions in 30-day (HR = 0.199, 95% CI: 0.124–0.320, p < 0.001) and 90-day (HR = 0.230, 95% CI: 0.150–0.352, p < 0.001) mortality. Kaplan–Meier curves confirmed better survival in the metformin group (p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses supported a consistent protective effect of metformin across most patient strata.ConclusionMetformin use was significantly associated with decreased short-term mortality among ICU patients with ARF. These findings suggest that metformin, beyond its glucose-lowering effects, may offer survival benefits in critically ill populations. Clinicians should consider the potential role of metformin when managing ICU patients with type 2 diabetes and ARF. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and optimize clinical application strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-f27b79381ec742e98b74174230a231d92025-08-26T05:28:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-08-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15842301584230Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort studyYunlin Yang0Jinfeng Liu1Yi Hou2Yuxun Wei3Liang Huang4Liang Huang5Wei Wei6Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shifang People’s Hospital, Shifang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, People’s Hospital of Zhongjiang County, Deyang, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, People’s Hospital of Zhongjiang County, Deyang, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, People’s Hospital of Zhongjiang County, Deyang, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy and Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, People’s Hospital of Zhongjiang County, Deyang, ChinaBackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the association of metformin use with the risk of in-hospital mortality and prognosis in acute respiratory failure (ARF) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the MIMIC-IV database. Patients were categorized into metformin and non-metformin groups based on medication exposure. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and ICU mortality, while 30-day and 90-day all-cause mortality served as secondary endpoints. We applied Kaplan–Meier survival curves, Cox proportional hazards models, and logistic regression to assess associations. Propensity score matching (PSM) and machine learning algorithms were used for confounder adjustment and feature selection.ResultsAfter PSM, 1,429 patients with ARF were included (374 metformin users; 1,055 non-users). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that metformin use was associated with significantly reduced in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.202, 95% CI: 0.123–0.317, p < 0.001) and ICU mortality (OR = 0.245, 95% CI: 0.142–0.399, p < 0.001). Cox models showed consistent reductions in 30-day (HR = 0.199, 95% CI: 0.124–0.320, p < 0.001) and 90-day (HR = 0.230, 95% CI: 0.150–0.352, p < 0.001) mortality. Kaplan–Meier curves confirmed better survival in the metformin group (p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses supported a consistent protective effect of metformin across most patient strata.ConclusionMetformin use was significantly associated with decreased short-term mortality among ICU patients with ARF. These findings suggest that metformin, beyond its glucose-lowering effects, may offer survival benefits in critically ill populations. Clinicians should consider the potential role of metformin when managing ICU patients with type 2 diabetes and ARF. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and optimize clinical application strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1584230/fullintensive care unitacute respiratory failureretrospective cohort studymortalitymetformin
spellingShingle Yunlin Yang
Jinfeng Liu
Yi Hou
Yuxun Wei
Liang Huang
Liang Huang
Wei Wei
Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort study
Frontiers in Pharmacology
intensive care unit
acute respiratory failure
retrospective cohort study
mortality
metformin
title Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort study
title_full Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort study
title_fullStr Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort study
title_short Correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure: a retrospective ICU cohort study
title_sort correlation between metformin use and mortality in acute respiratory failure a retrospective icu cohort study
topic intensive care unit
acute respiratory failure
retrospective cohort study
mortality
metformin
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1584230/full
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