Effect of bezafibrate on incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of fibric acid derivative bezafibrate on incidence of type 2 diabetes in obese patients over a median 6.3 years follow-up period.


RESULTS
The study sample comprised 339 non-diabetic obese patients (body mass index > or = 30.0 kg/m2) aged 42-74. Patients received either bezafibrate retard 400 mg (178 patients) or placebo (161 patients) once daily. Development of new diabetes was recorded in 98 patients: in 56 (37.0%) from the placebo group vs. 42 (27.1%) from the bezafibrate group, (P log-rank=0.01). The median time (interquartile range) until onset of new diabetes was significantly delayed in patients on bezafibrate when compared with those on placebo: 4.0 (2.1-5.0) vs. 2.0 (0.5-3.5) years, P=0.002. Multivariable analysis identified bezafibrate treatment as an independent predictor of reduced risk of new diabetes with hazard ratio (HR) 0.59 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39-0.91]. Other significant variables associated with future overt type 2 diabetes in obese patients were triglycerides (50 mg/dL increment) with HR 1.15 (95% CI 1.02-1.28) and fasting glucose (10 mg/dL increment) with HR 2.27 (95% CI 1.83-2.81).


CONCLUSIONS
Bezafibrate, when compared with placebo, reduced the incidence and delayed the onset of type 2 diabetes in obese patients over a long-term follow-up period.
Tenenbaum
Alexander
A
Cardiac Rehabilitation Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer 52621, Israel. altenen@post.tau.ac.il
Motro
Michael
M
Fisman
Enrique Z
EZ
Adler
Yehuda
Y
Shemesh
Joseph
J
Tanne
David
D
Leor
Jonathan
J
Boyko
Valentina
V
Schwammenthal
Ehud
E
Behar
Solomon
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D001629:Bezafibrate