Correction to: "Cardiovascular Outcomes Comparison of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors Versus Sulfonylurea as Add-on Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis".

Objective: Recent studies have raised concerns about the cardiovascular safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the cardiovascular outcomes of sulfonylureas (SUs) versus DPP4 inhibitors in combination with metformin.

Methods: After searching for trials using combination therapy of metformin with an SU or DPP4 inhibitor in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase, 1 prospective observational study and 15 randomized controlled studies were selected.

Results: Regarding the primary analysis endpoint, no significant differences were found in the risk of all-cause mortality between SUs and DPP4 inhibitors as add-on therapies to metformin (random-effect relative risk [RR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-1.33; I²=0%; p=0.097). Cardiovascular death was also similar between SUs and DPP4 inhibitors in the 5 studies that reported outcomes (random-effect RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.83-1.27; I²=0%; p=0.817). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in major adverse cardiac events, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, the SU group showed a higher risk of ischemic stroke, more hypoglycemic events, and more weight gain than the DPP4 inhibitor group (ischemic stroke, random-effect RR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.06-7.30; I²=51.9%; p=0.039; hypoglycemia, random-effect RR, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.53-9.39; I²=98.2; p=0.004; weight gain, weighted mean difference, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.07-2.29; I²=94.7; p<0.001).

Conclusion: As add-on therapies to metformin, SUs and DPP4 inhibitors showed no significant differences in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. However, some of the favorable results of DPP4 inhibitors suggest good safety and feasibility of the drugs.