AUTHOR=Liao Kuan-Fu , Chuang Hsun-Yang , Lai Shih-Wei 

TITLE=Metformin Use Correlates with Reduced Risk of Gallstones in Diabetic Patients: A 12-Year Follow-up Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00765

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2017.00765

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Few studies are available on the association between gallstones and metformin use. The objective of the study was to determine whether metformin use is associated with gallstones.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. Subjects of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were included from 2002 to 2013. The metformin-exposure group was defined as ≥29 cumulative defined daily dose (DDD) of metformin use. The un-exposure group was defined as &lt;29 cumulative DDD of metformin use. The major endpoint was a new diagnosis of gallstones during the follow-up period. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of gallstones associated with metformin use.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> After controlling for potential confounders, the adjusted HRs of gallstones were 1.11 (95%CI: 0.84–1.46) for subjects with metformin dosage of 29–180 cumulative DDD, and 0.57 (95%CI: 0.42–0.78) for subjects with metformin dosage &gt;180 cumulative DDD, compared with the un-exposure group.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Long-term use of metformin is associated with reduced risk of gallstones.</p>