摘要

Purpose: Acarbose is effective in delaying or preventing the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to assess differences in the preventive effects of acarbose in Eastern and Western populations with prediabetes. Methods: We performed a systematic search of databases and reference lists of clinical trials conducted through August 2013. Randomized controlled trials of acarbose alone, with a minimum intervention duration of 3 years and which provided data on T2DM incidence, were included for analysis. Analyses were conducted by using Review Manager version 5.1 software. Findings: Eight randomized controlled trials with 2628 participants were included. Acarbose decreased the occurrence of T2DM (number needed to treat [NNT], 6.7). Compared with the control (placebo and/or lifestyle intervention), the incidence of T2DM was significantly lower in the Eastern group (NNT, 5.9) than in the Western group (NNT, 11.1) (P < 0.0001, I-2 = 94.7%). At the end of follow-up, reversal of prediabetes to normal glucose tolerance was more likely in the Eastern group (NNT, 4.3) than in the Western group (NNT, 25) (P = 0.004, I-2 = 92%). Among those remaining prediabetic, there was no significant difference between the subtotal estimates for the subgroups (P = 0.17, I-2 = 46.5%). There was no positive correlation between preventive effect and dose, and no difference in studies with varying followup durations within and across either ethnic group.