Metformin lowers risk of hearing loss and mortality in type 2 diabetes
Authors' conclusion
Metformin use is associated with a dose-dependent reduction in SSNHL risk and lower mortality in T2D patients. The rigorous definitions of metformin exposure and an actively treated comparator group emphasize these findings, suggesting metformin's potential role in SSNHL prevention and improved survival.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with T2D, Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, followed from 2008
- Exposure
- Metformin use vs other antidiabetic agents
- Outcome
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)
Methodological detailspropensity score matching, competing risk models, active comparator
- Propensity score matching
- Competing risk models
- Active comparator
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
SSNHL incidence
Metformin users
11.48 per 10,000 person-years
Non-users
15.66 per 10,000 person-years
Metformin users vs Non-usersEstimate (95% CI)P value
SSNHL incidence
IRR 0.73(0.66–0.82)
P < 0.000127% reduction in SSNHL risk
adjusted HR 0.73(0.66–0.82)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) by metformin dose
- Higher cumulative doses (Q4): HR
- 0.36 (95% CI 0.29-0.46)
- Daily doses ≥1 DDD: HR
- 0.78 (95% CI 0.69-0.87)
- Higher cumulative doses and daily doses ≥1 DDD were linked to further SSNHL risk reductions
Overall mortality
- Metformin use was associated with lower overall mortality
Original publication
Metformin lowers risk of hearing loss and mortality in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 17 December 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →