Table 2

Rates and aHRs (95% CIs) for lactic acidosis hospitalizations among patients with reduced GFR who used metformin vs. sulfonylureas in weighted cohort

MetforminSulfonylureas
Number at risk matched weighted 24,542 24,662 
 Primary outcome: lactic acidosis hospitalization 193 180 
  Person-years 46,197 48,748 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 4.18 (3.63, 4.81) 3.69 (3.19, 4.27) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.21 (0.99, 1.48) Reference 
 Laboratory-confirmed lactic acid hospitalization 84 75 
  Person-years 46,283 48,860 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 1.81 (1.46, 2.24) 1.54 (1.23, 1.93) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.25 (0.92, 1.70) Reference 
 Primary discharge diagnosis of lactic acidosis hospitalization 122 121 
  Person-years 46,250 48,785 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 2.63 (2.20, 3.14) 2.49 (2.08, 2.97) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.11 (0.87, 1.44) Reference 
Sensitivity analysis: requiring lactate ≥5 mmol/L   
 Number at risk matched weighted 24,542 24,662 
  Composite lactic acidosis hospitalizations 146 140 
  Person-years 46,238 48,769 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 3.16 (2.69, 3.72) 2.89 (2.45, 3.41) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.15 (0.91, 1.46) Reference 
Sensitivity analysis: population with second reduced eGFR   
 Number at risk matched weighted 3,851 3,872 
  Composite lactic acidosis hospitalizations 22 27 
  Person-years 7,160 8,487 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 3.07 (2.02, 4.64) 3.17 (2.18, 4.60) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.09 (0.64, 1.84) Reference 
Sensitivity analysis: excluding Medicare Advantage   
 Number at risk matched weighteda 20,787 20,893 
  Composite lactic acidosis hospitalizations 163 154 
  Person-years 37,216 39,507 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 3.89 (3.33, 4.56) 4.37 (3.75, 5.10) 
  aHR (95% CI)b 1.18 (0.94, 1.47) Reference 
MetforminSulfonylureas
Number at risk matched weighted 24,542 24,662 
 Primary outcome: lactic acidosis hospitalization 193 180 
  Person-years 46,197 48,748 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 4.18 (3.63, 4.81) 3.69 (3.19, 4.27) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.21 (0.99, 1.48) Reference 
 Laboratory-confirmed lactic acid hospitalization 84 75 
  Person-years 46,283 48,860 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 1.81 (1.46, 2.24) 1.54 (1.23, 1.93) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.25 (0.92, 1.70) Reference 
 Primary discharge diagnosis of lactic acidosis hospitalization 122 121 
  Person-years 46,250 48,785 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 2.63 (2.20, 3.14) 2.49 (2.08, 2.97) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.11 (0.87, 1.44) Reference 
Sensitivity analysis: requiring lactate ≥5 mmol/L   
 Number at risk matched weighted 24,542 24,662 
  Composite lactic acidosis hospitalizations 146 140 
  Person-years 46,238 48,769 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 3.16 (2.69, 3.72) 2.89 (2.45, 3.41) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.15 (0.91, 1.46) Reference 
Sensitivity analysis: population with second reduced eGFR   
 Number at risk matched weighted 3,851 3,872 
  Composite lactic acidosis hospitalizations 22 27 
  Person-years 7,160 8,487 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 3.07 (2.02, 4.64) 3.17 (2.18, 4.60) 
  aHRb (95% CI) 1.09 (0.64, 1.84) Reference 
Sensitivity analysis: excluding Medicare Advantage   
 Number at risk matched weighteda 20,787 20,893 
  Composite lactic acidosis hospitalizations 163 154 
  Person-years 37,216 39,507 
  Unadjusted rate/1,000 person-years (95% CI) 3.89 (3.33, 4.56) 4.37 (3.75, 5.10) 
  aHR (95% CI)b 1.18 (0.94, 1.47) Reference 
a

Primary analysis considers patients persistent on regimen until they do not have oral antidiabetic medications for 90 days.

b

Cox proportional hazards model for time to event. Adjusted for mean-centered metformin dose, demographics, clinical information derived from the electronic health record, comorbidities, use of medications, and health care utilization (see Supplementary Table 1). All continuous variables were modeled as restricted cubic splines.

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