Title

Prescribing Patterns of Metformin in High-risk Patients with Prediabetes

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

November 2015

Abstract

Aims: The primary objective of this study is to examine the rates of metformin prescribing in patients with prediabetes who are either < 60 years of age, have a BMI ≥35 kg/m2, or women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Secondary objectives include: 1) examination of the time from diagnosis of prediabetes to the initiation of metformin and 2) if metformin initiation status and length of time correlates to the patient having any other additional diabetes mellitus (DM) risk factors.Methods: This was a single center, retrospective cohort study. This study included all patients with prediabetes, defined as having hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 39 through 46 mmol/mol (5.7-6.4 percent), who were patients at the Interim LSU Hospital and Clinics from January 2012-September 2013. Results: There were a total of 13 patients out of 160 patients in the study population who were prescribed metformin for an overall metformin initiation rate of 8.1 percent. The metformin initiation rate for the three individual groups; history of GDM, aged <60 years, and BMI > 35 kg/m2 were 0 percent, 9.0 percent, and 17.5 percent respectively.Conclusion: Metformin initiation rates in patients with prediabetes are not in accordance with current recommendations, and provider education is necessary to increase rates to delay or prevent the progression of prediabetes to type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

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