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Evaluation of the Efficacy and Tolerability of Acarbose in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

A Postmarketing Surveillance Study

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Abstract

Objective: The efficacy and tolerability of acarbose were examined in a postmarketing surveillance study of 27 803 patients with diabetes mellitus (26 044 were diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes) over a 12-week treatment period.

Patients and methods: Overall efficacy data were reported for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and a detailed data analysis was conducted for patients with type 2 diabetes. Tolerability was described for the total group. Of the type 2 diabetes patients, 37.6% were treated with diet only; 44.2% were additionally treated with sulphonylureas; 6.3% with metformin or metformin plus sulphonylurea; and 11.6% with insulin alone or in combination with oral treatment. The frequency of two or more concomitant diseases was 45.8% for all type 2 diabetes patients, and 62.4% in elderly patients (age ≥70 years).

Results: In patients with type 2 diabetes, acarbose administration in addition to the existing treatment resulted in reductions in mean blood glucose levels (fasting 50 mg/dL, lh post-prandial [pp] 60 mg/dL, 2h pp 56 mg/dL), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c 1.3%; HbA1 1.6%) and bodyweight (1.5 kg). Results for type 1 diabetes patients were similar. No clinically relevant influence of age, body mass index or number of concomitant diseases on the results could be observed. Tolerability was good: 83% of patients had no adverse events, 13.7% reported flatulence, and 2.2% had at least one occurrence of diarrhoea. Hypoglycaemia was found in 0.07% of patients, mainly in combination with metformin or insulin. Tolerability was independent of patients’ age. Laboratory investigations gave no indication of other adverse events.

Conclusion: This postmarketing surveillance study documents the therapeutic benefit and good tolerability and compliance of acarbose as mono- and combination therapy, even in elderly and multimorbid patients.

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  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Bayer Vital GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany, for funding the study and Datan, Havixbeck, Germany for data processing.

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  1. Medical Department and Department of Biometry, Bayer Vital GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany

    M. Spengler, H. Schmitz & H. Landen

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  1. M. Spengler
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  2. H. Schmitz
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  3. H. Landen
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Spengler, M., Schmitz, H. & Landen, H. Evaluation of the Efficacy and Tolerability of Acarbose in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Clin. Drug Investig. 25, 651–659 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200525100-00004

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