We studied whether in patients with COPD the use of metformin for diabetes treatment was linked to
a pattern of lung function decline consistent with the hypothesis of anti-aging efects of metformin.
Patients of GOLD grades 1–4 of the COSYCONET cohort with follow-up data of up to 4.5 y were
included. The annual decline in lung function (FEV1, FVC) and CO difusing capacity (KCO, TLCO)
in %predicted at baseline was evaluated for associations with age, sex, BMI, pack-years, smoking
status, baseline lung function, exacerbation risk, respiratory symptoms, cardiac disease, as well
as metformin-containing therapy compared to patients without diabetes and metformin. Among
2741 patients, 1541 (mean age 64.4 y, 601 female) fulflled the inclusion criteria. In the group with
metformin treatment vs. non-diabetes the mean annual decline in KCO and TLCO was signifcantly
lower (0.2 vs 2.3, 0.8 vs. 2.8%predicted, respectively; p < 0.05 each), but not the decline of FEV1 and
FVC. These results were confrmed using multiple regression and propensity score analyses. Our
fndings demonstrate an association between the annual decline of lung difusing capacity and the
intake of metformin in patients with COPD consistent with the hypothesis of anti-aging efects of
metformin as refected in a surrogate marker of emphysema
