Metformin and carotid intima-media thickness in never-smokers with type 1 diabetes: The REMOVAL trial.

Abstract

AIM:

To determine whether metformin's effects on carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) in type 1 diabetes differ according to smoking status.

METHODS:

Regression model effect estimates for the effect of metformin versus placebo (double-blind) on carotid IMT were calculated as a subgroup analysis of the REMOVAL trial.

RESULTS:

In 428 randomized participants (227 never-smokers, 201 ever-smokers), averaged mean carotid IMT progression (per year) was reduced by metformin versus placebo in never-smokers (-0.012 mm, 95% CI -0.021 to -0.002; p = .0137) but not in ever-smokers (0.003 mm, 95% CI -0.008 to 0.014; p = .5767); and similarly in non-current smokers (-0.008 mm, 95% CI -0.015 to -0.00001; p = .0497) but not in current smokers (0.013 mm, 95% CI -0.007 to 0.032; p = .1887). Three-way interaction terms (treatment*time*smoking status) were significant for never versus ever smoking (p = .0373, prespecified) and non-current versus current smoking (p = .0496, exploratory). Averaged maximal carotid IMT progression (per year) was reduced by metformin versus placebo in never-smokers (-0.020 mm, 95% CI -0.034 to -0.006; p = .0067) but not in ever-smokers (-0.006 mm, 95% CI -0.020 to 0.008; p = .4067), although this analysis was not supported by a significant three-way interaction term.

CONCLUSIONS:

This subgroup analysis of the REMOVAL trial provides additional support for a potentially wider role of adjunct metformin therapy in cardiovascular risk management in type 1 diabetes, particularly for individuals who have never smoked cigarettes.

• Authors: Joseph G Timmons, Nicola Greenlaw, James G Boyle, Nish Chaturvedi, Ian Ford, Martijn C G J Brouwers, Therese Tillin, Irene Hramiak, Alun D Hughes, Alicia J Jenkins, Barbara E K Klein, Ron Klein, Teik C Ooi, Peter Rossing, Coen D A Stehouwer, Naveed Sattar, Helen M Colhoun, John R Petrie, REMOVAL Study Group
• Journal: Diabetes, obesity & metabolism (Diabetes Obes Metab) Vol. 23 Issue 6 Pg. 1371-1378 (06 2021) ISSN: 1463-1326 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33591613 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Metformin

Topics

• Carotid Arteries
• Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (complications, drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Humans
• Metformin (therapeutic use)
• Risk Factors
• Smokers
• Smoking