Open AccessChanges in glycosylated hemoglobin after initiation of hydroxychloroquine or methotrexate treatment in diabetes patients with rheumatic diseases
Author(s) -
Rekedal Laura R.,
Massarotti Elena,
Garg Rajesh,
Bhatia Radhika,
Gleeson Timothy,
Lu Bing,
Solomon Daniel H.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.27703
Subject(s) - medicine , hydroxychloroquine , rheumatoid arthritis , diabetes mellitus , body mass index , concomitant , medical record , methotrexate , gastroenterology , hemoglobin , endocrinology , disease , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Abstract Objective Prior research demonstrates that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) lowers glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) in diabetes patients without rheumatic disease. We examined medical records of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and concomitant rheumatic illness to measure changes in HbA 1c after starting HCQ or methotrexate (MTX). Methods We used electronic medical records to identify patients beginning treatment with either HCQ or MTX who had a diagnosis of DM (or a pretreatment HbA 1c value of ≥7%) and at least 1 HbA 1c measurement both before and within 12 months after initiation of treatment. Using a structured medical record abstraction, we examined rheumatic disease diagnosis, cumulative steroid use, duration (months) between drug initiation and lowest HbA 1c value, a change in DM medication, body mass index (BMI), age, and sex. Adjusted linear regression models determined changes in HbA 1c from pretreatment values to the lowest posttreatment values within 12 months. Results We identified 45 patients taking HCQ and 37 patients taking MTX who met the inclusion criteria. Rheumatoid arthritis had been diagnosed in approximately half of the patients in each group. Age, sex, and mean pretreatment HbA 1c levels were similar across groups. The mean BMI of those taking HCQ (35.4 kg/m 2 ) was slightly higher than that of those taking MTX (32.2 kg/m 2 ) ( P = 0.13). Glucocorticoid use appeared more common in those taking MTX (46%) than in those taking HCQ (29%) ( P = 0.17). The mean reduction in HbA 1c from pretreatment values to the lowest posttreatment values was 0.66% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.26, 1.05) in those taking HCQ compared with 0.11% (95% CI −0.18, 0.40) in those taking MTX. In fully adjusted analyses, the reduction in HbA 1c among those taking HCQ was 0.54% greater than the reduction among those taking MTX ( P = 0.041). Conclusion HCQ initiation was associated with a significantly greater reduction in HbA 1c as compared with MTX initiation among diabetes patients with rheumatic disease.