title: A multinational, observational study to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of acarbose as add-on or monotherapy in a range of patients: the Gluco VIP study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus is growing rapidly, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The aim of this international, large-scale, observational study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of the antidiabetic agent acarbose as add-on or monotherapy in a range of patients with type 2 diabetes, including those with cardiovascular morbidities. The majority of practices were included from high-burden regions (predominantly those in the Asia-Pacific region).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study conducted in 15 countries/regions. Adults with pre-treated or untreated type 2 diabetes prescribed acarbose as add-on or monotherapy were eligible. Two-hour postprandial blood glucose (2-h PPG), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured over a 3-month observation period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 15,034 patients were valid for the efficacy analysis and 15,661 for the safety analysis (mean age was 57.6 years and 92.6 % of patients were Asian). Mean (SD) 2-h PPG decreased by -71.9 (62.3) mg/dL, to 170.2 (46.5) mg/dL at final visit (after 12.8 [4.1] weeks). Mean HbA1c decreased by -1.1 % (1.3) to 7.2 % (1.1) and mean FBG decreased by -33.0 (43.3) mg/dL to 124.8 (30.5) mg/dL. Acarbose was effective regardless of the presence of cardiovascular co-morbidities or diabetic complications. The efficacy of acarbose was rated 'very good' or 'good' in 85.5 % of patients, and tolerability as 'very good' or 'good' in 84.9 % of patients. Drug-related adverse events, mainly gastrointestinal, were reported in 490/15,661 patients (3.13 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this observational study support the notion that acarbose is effective, safe and well tolerated in a large cohort of Asian patients with type 2 diabetes.
authors: Beijing Military General Hospital, China.
authors: Weiwei
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Dongjun
authors: D
authors: Kim
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Philip
authors: Zahid
authors: Z
authors: Miyan
authors: Irina
authors: I
authors: Barykina
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Schmidt
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Stein
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020909:Acarbose; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human