Effects of Thiazolidinediones on Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using the National Health Insurance Database in Taiwan

Abstract Background Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) may reduce in-stent restenosis and improve clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients after bare-metal stent implantation. However, it is still unknown whether diabetic patients with drug-eluting stents (DESs) could benefit from treatment with TZDs. Objective The objective was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of TZDs in type 2 diabetic patients within 1 year of receiving DESs. Methods This retrospective cohort study was performed in 1743 Taiwanese type 2 diabetic patients (1137 men; 606 women) who received DESs between December 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007. Patients were classified into TZD (n = 268) or non-TZD groups (n = 1,475) using medication records within 3 months of the index hospitalization. Follow-up data were available through December 31, 2008. Clinical outcome measurements included death, myocardial infarction (MI), and repeat revascularization within 1 year after the index date of hospitalization. Cox proportional hazards model and other analyses were performed for the study. Results For the TZD and non-TZD groups, the mean ages were 65.07 and 66.09 years, respectively, for those with limus-eluting stents (LESs) and 65.61 and 65.81 years, respectively, for those with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs). With or without TZD medication, there were no significant differences in the adjusted hazard ratios of death, MI, or repeat revascularization for diabetic patients who received LESs or PESs. TZD treatment in patients who received LESs and had a history of MI was associated with a higher risk of MI (hazard ratio = 5.292; 95% CI, 1.028–27.232). Conclusions TZDs did not improve the clinical outcomes in Taiwanese type 2 diabetes patients who received DESs. TZDs might have been a contributor to higher risk of MI in patients with LESs and a history of MI. Larger clinical trials are still needed to study this issue further.