Table 3

Hypoglycemia rates in type 2 diabetes patients on different glucose-lowering agents before and after adjusting for HbA1c and clinical features

VariablesRates (95% CI)Rate ratio (vs metformin)P value (verses metformin)
Model 1
R2=0.03
Metformin
(reference)
1.3 (0.7 to 1.9)1.0
SUs2.1 (1.4 to 2.8)1.6 (0.9 to 2.7)0.108
Insulin3.2 (2.1 to 4.2)2.4 (1.4 to 4.2)0.002
Model 2
R2=0.21
Metformin (reference)0.6 (0.3 to 1.0)1.0
SUs1.5 (1.1 to 2.0)2.4 (1.4 to 4.1)0.001
Insulin3.8 (2.3 to 4.6)5.4 (3.0 to 9.9)<0.001
Model 3
R2=0.24
Metformin (reference)0.7 (0.3 to 1.1)1.0
SUs1.6 (1.1 to 2.0)2.1 (1.2 to 3.6)0.006
Insulin3.2 (2.0 to 4.4)4.4 (2.2 to 8.7)<0.001
  • Model 1: unadjusted; model 2: adjusted for HbA1c; model 3: adjusted for HbA1c, age, diabetes duration, BMI, sex and renal impairment. Adjusted rates are adjusted to the mean value for the covariate for the cohort (mean cohort HbA1c 73 mmol/mol). Renal impairment was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2.

  • Values shown are mean (95% CIs) and p-value. Bold values denote statistical significance at the p < 0.05 level.

  • BMI, body mass index; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; SUs, sulphonylureas.