Effect of pitavastatin on glucose, HbA1c and incident diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials in individuals without diabetes.

Aims: Whether adverse effect of statins on glycaemic indices is common to all statins remains controversial and as yet data for pitavastatin are limited. We sought to assess the effects of pitavastatin on glycaemia and new-onset diabetes (NOD) in non-diabetic individuals using data from RCT pooled together by means of a meta-analysis.

Materials And Methods: We searched Medline, Cochrane, Embase and clinical trials registries websites until November-2014 for ≥12-week follow-up placebo or statin-controlled RCT of pitavastatin that included participants without diabetes and reported on fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c or NOD. We additionally sought studies by consulting with Kowa Ph. Ltd. The association of pitavastatin with the outcomes were estimated by random-effects meta-analyses. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I(2) statistic and sensitivity and subgroup analyses, and publication bias with funnel plots and Egger and Harbord Tests.

Results: 15 studies (approx. 1600 person-years) were included. No significant differences associated with pitavastatin (vs. control) were observed for FBG (MD -0.01 mg/dL [95%CI -0.77, 0.74], I(2) = 0%), HbA1c (MD -0.03% [95%CI -0.11, 0.05], I(2) = 43%) or NOD (RR 0.70 [95%CI 0.30, 1.61]; RD 0.0 [95%CI -0.004, 0.003]; I(2) = 0%). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses (including type of control [placebo or other statin], pitavastatin dose or follow-up] did not yield significant results. Potential publication bias may occur for NOD.

Conclusions: In the present meta-analysis pitavastatin did not adversely affect glucose metabolism or diabetes development compared with placebo or other statins.