Metformin Use Tied to Lower Rate of Asthma Attacks
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2024 -- Metformin is associated with a lower rate of asthma attacks among people with diabetes, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Bohee Lee, Ph.D., from Imperial College London, and colleagues estimated the association of metformin and add-on antidiabetic medications (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists [GLP-1 RAs], dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, sulphonylureas, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and insulin) with asthma attacks. The analysis included data from the U.K. Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum-linked hospital admissions and mortality data (2004 to 2020) for people with new use of metformin with type 2 diabetes.
The researchers found that among 4,278 patients in the self-controlled case series (SCCS) and 8,424 patients in the inverse probability of treatment weighting cohort (IPTW), metformin was associated with fewer asthma attacks of similar magnitude in both approaches (SCCS: incidence rate ratio, 0.68; IPTW: hazard ratio, 0.76). There was no evidence of significant bias in negative control analyses. The association was not modified by hemoglobin A1c levels, body mass index, blood eosinophil cell counts, or asthma severity. GLP-1 RAs were the only add-on antidiabetic medication to have an additive association (SCCS: incidence rate ratio, 0.60).
"The results of this cohort study suggest that metformin was associated with a lower rate of asthma attacks, with further reductions with the use of GLP-1 RA," the authors write. "This appeared to be associated with mechanisms other than through glycemic control or weight loss and occurred across asthma phenotypes."
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted November 2024
Read this next
Muscle Ultrasound Can Detect Insulin Resistance
MONDAY, June 30, 2025 -- Muscle ultrasound can detect insulin resistance and lower muscle mass, according to a study published online June 12 in the Journal of Ultrasound...
Disparities Seen in Continuous Glucose Monitor Rx by Language Preference
FRIDAY, June 27, 2025 -- For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), disparities in continuous glucose monitor (CGM) prescriptions are seen by language preference, with less access...
ADA: Insulin Efsitora Noninferior to Glargine for Reducing HbA1c in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
FRIDAY, June 27, 2025 -- Once-weekly insulin efsitora alpha (efsitora) is noninferior to once-daily insulin glargine (glargine) for reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.