OBJECTIVE:

To examine possible adverse effects of sulfonylureas on survival among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who experience a myocardial infarction (MI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with an MI that met standardized criteria from January 1, 1985, through December 31, 2002, were followed up for mortality.

RESULTS:

Among 2189 patients with MI (mean+/-SD age, 68+/-14 years; 1237 men [57%]), 409 (19%) had DM. The 23 patients treated with first-generation sulfonylureas, biguanides, or thiazolidinediones were excluded from analyses. Among the remaining 386 patients with DM, 120 (31%) were taking second-generation sulfonylureas, 180 (47%) were taking insulin, and 86 (22%) were receiving nonpharmacological treatment. Patients with DM treated with second-generation sulfonylureas were more likely to be men and have higher creatinine clearance than those treated with insulin. After adjusting for age, sex, Killip class, duration of DM, creatinine clearance, and reperfusion therapy or revascularization, patients treated with second-generation sulfonylureas had a lower risk of death than did diabetic patients receiving insulin (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.80; P=.009).

CONCLUSION:

These population-based data do not support the concern about an adverse effect of second-generation sulfonylureas on survival after MI and underscore the importance of population-based studies of surveillance of drug safety.