title: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors can minimize the hypoglycaemic burden and enhance safety in elderly people with diabetes.
abstract: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among elderly people is increasing. Often associated with disabilities/comorbidities, T2DM lowers the chances of successful aging and is independently associated with frailty and an increased risk of hypoglycaemia, which can be further exacerbated by antihyperglycaemic treatment. From this perspective, the clinical management of T2DM in the elderly is challenging and requires individualization of optimum glycaemic targets depending on comorbidities, cognitive functioning and ability to recognize and self-manage the disease. The lack of solid evidence-based medicine supporting treatment guidelines for older people with diabetes further complicates the matter. Several classes of medicine for the treatment of T2DM are currently available and different drug combinations are often required to achieve individualized glycaemic goals. Many of these drugs, however, carry disadvantages such as the propensity to cause weight gain or hypoglycaemia. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, a recent addition to the pharmacological armamentarium, have become widely accepted in clinical practice because of their efficacy, low risk of hypoglycaemia, neutral effect on body weight, and apparently greater safety in patients with kidney failure. Although more information is needed to reach definitive conclusions, growing evidence suggests that DPP-4 inhibitors may become a valuable component in the pharmacological management of elderly people with T2DM. The present review aims to delineate the potential advantages of this pharmacological approach in the treatment of elderly people with T2DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avogaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dardano
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: de Kreutzenberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Prato
mesh_terms: D000218:Adamantane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D000077597:Vildagliptin
chemical_list: D000218:Adamantane; D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D009570:Nitriles; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D000077597:Vildagliptin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: comorbidities; diabetes treatment; frailty; hypoglycaemia; incretin therapy; renal impairment