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Document Type

Conference Proceedings

Abstract

Objective: Metformin, the drug of choice for type II diabetes, is increasingly studied as a longevity drug; however, the findings are inconclusive. This study aims to determine whether Metformin intake (vs Sulfonylurea) reduces the risk of all-cause mortality among diabetic Mexican Americans (MAs) living along the Texas-Mexico Border. Methods: Diabetic participants (N=120) from the Border Epidemiological Study (BESA 1994-2006) were longitudinally assessed. Participants taking three treatment regimens; Metformin (N=26), Sulfonylurea (N=74), and Metformin and Sulfonylurea Combo (N=20) were followed up until 2019 (24 years survival follow-up). Survival analysis assessed the survival functions among treatment groups. Cox proportional hazard regression with time varying covariates estimated the hazard ratios in predicting the risk of all-cause mortality. Covariates for modelling survival included age, gender, education, income, country of birth, and count of other comorbidities. Results: Subjects were followed for an average of 14.23 (median 14.0) years, contributing a total of 1,708.5 person-years, of which 810.3 person-years were from censored subjects. The median survival years were Metformin: 16.8 years, Sulfonylurea: 11 years, and Combo: 15.6 years (though statistically not significant). Hazard ratios of all-cause mortality were lower among Metformin (HR=0.61, CI=0.31-1.16) and Metformin Combo group (HR=0.96, CI=0.61-1.52) compared to Sulfonylureas (though statistically not significant). Conclusion: Metformin use among MAs is indicative of protective factors compared to Sulfonylureas towards all-cause mortality. Future studies with a larger sample size and controlling other individual risk factors, such as severity of diabetes, are needed to estimate the effect of Metformin intake on survival of diabetic MAs.

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