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Does metformin protect against osteoarthritis? An electronic health record cohort study

Barnett, Lauren A. ; Jordan, Kelvin P.; Edwards, John J.; Van Der Windt, Danielle A.

Does metformin protect against osteoarthritis? An electronic health record cohort study Thumbnail


Authors

Lauren A. Barnett

John J. Edwards



Abstract

Background
Obesity is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) whilst there is some evidence that diabetes also increases risk. Metformin is a common oral treatment for those with diabetes.

Objective
The aim is to investigate whether metformin reduces the risk of OA.

Methods
This was a cohort study set within the Consultations in Primary Care Archive, with 3217 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients at 13 general practices with recorded type 2 diabetes in the baseline period (2002–2003) and no prior record of OA were identified. Exposure was a prescription for metformin. Outcome was an OA record during follow up. Cox proportional hazard models with Gamma frailty term were fitted: adjusted for age, gender, deprivation, and comorbidity.

Results
There was no association between prescribed metformin treatment at baseline and OA (adjusted HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.15). A similar non- significant association was found when allowing exposure status of prescription of metformin to vary over time.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 16, 2017
Publication Date May 25, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Primary Health Care Research and Development
Print ISSN 1463-4236
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Pages 623-628
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/s1463423617000287
Keywords cohort, osteoarthritis, survival analysis
Publisher URL http://doi.org/10.1017/S1463423617000287
PMID 28539134

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