Association between long-term prescription of metformin and the progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension are independently related to increasing risk of subsequent incident heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study was designed to evaluate the influences of long-term metformin prescription in these patients.

Methods: Using a propensity score matching of 1:2 ratio, this retrospective claims database study compared metformin prescription (n = 130) and non-metformin therapy (n = 260) in patients with T2DM and hypertension and without clinical signs or symptoms of heart failure.

Results: With a follow-up of 6 years, the new-onset symptomatic HFpEF occurred in 6 of 130 patients in metformin group and 31 of 260 patients in non-metformin group (P = .020). Metformin also generated more prominent improvement in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and hypertrophy. And Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that metformin prescription (HR 0.351, 95% CI: 0.145-0.846, P = .020) was associated with a reduced risk of new onset of symptomatic HFpEF.

Conclusions: Long-term metformin exposure was associated with protective effects in terms of the incidence of new-onset symptomatic HFpEF, LV diastolic dysfunction and hypertrophy in patients with T2DM and hypertension, which might be beneficial for the delay of HFpEF progression.