Clinical efficacy of Acarbose on diabetes mellitus combined with postprandial hypotension in elderly patients

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of Acarbose on type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with postprandial hypotension (PPH) in elderly patient. Methods A total of 60 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and PPH who were diagnosed and treated at our hospital from July 2016 to December 2017 were enrolled in this study.Patients were given Acarbose intervention for two weeks.The changes of blood pressure, heart rate and blood glucose before and after treatment were monitored, and the therapeutic effects and side effects were evaluated. Results After Acarbose intervention, postprandial systolic pressure (F=9.311, P=0.033), diastolic pressure (F=8.710, P=0.026) and mean arterial pressure (F=7.710, P=0.021) were decreased significantly in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and PPH by comparison with those before intervention.There was no significant difference in heart rate fluctuation(F=8.091, P=0.069)and in fasting blood glucose level(t=0.209, P=0.120)before and after treatment.The 2-hour postprandial blood glucose level was lower in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus and PPH after treatment of acarbose than before treatment [(7.9±0.9)mmol/L vs. (8.9±1.9)mmol/L, t=18.310, P=0.003]. The incidence rate of PPH was 100.0% before treatment, and decreased to 43.3% (26/60) after acarbose intervention (χ2=51.430, P=0.000). There were 5 patients with adverse reactions, and the incidence rate of adverse reactions was 8.3%(5/60), and no patients had cerebral ischemia. Conclusions Acarbose can alleviate postprandial blood pressure, decrease the fluctuation of postprandial blood glucose and reduce the incidence of PPH, which has a high safety.It may be one of the effective measures in treating diabetes mellitus combined with postprandial hypotension in the elderly. Key words: Acarbose; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Hypotension