Effect of DPP4 inhibitor use on sarcopenia in elderly diagnosed type 2 DM

Introduction: Sarcopenia is related to increased morbidity and mortality in older patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). In this study, we investigated the effect of dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) in sarcopenia in older adults with DM over a six-month follow-up. Materials and Methods: This is a longitudinal retrospective study. A total of 90 patients were included in the study. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was evaluated based on the EGWSOP 2 criteria. The patients were divided into two groups according to the use of the DPP4i. Then, DPP4i users were further divided into two groups as currently users and new starters. Results: The mean age of the patients was 72.57±7.089, and 60% of them were female. Although DPP4i users had worse glycaemia, sarcopenia and sarcopenia parameters were not different between the two groups. The frequency of decreased muscle strength decreased at the end of 6 months in DPP4i users. (p=0.039). It was determined that 42 patients who did not receive DPP4i had a decrease in muscle strength at the end of the 6th month. (p=0.046). When the patients analyzed as new starters and currently users, the frequency of low muscle strength was lower and the SMI value was higher after 6 months of treatment in the new starters. (p=0.039 and p=0.048) The frequency of decreased muscle mass decreased in the follow-up of currently DPP4i users. (p=0.021) Conclusion: We found that the usage of DPP4i in diabetic older adults had a positive effect on muscle mass at the end of the first six months and a positive effect on muscle strength using DPP4i longer than six months. Considering the increasing frequency of DM and sarcopenia in older adults, DPP4i may be a good choice as its positive effect on sarcopenia as well as its efficacy in the treatment of DM. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, sarcopenia, DPP4 inhibitor, older adults, muscle mass, muscle strength.