Prior treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors is associated with better functional outcome and lower in-hospital mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted with acute ischaemic stroke.

It is unclear whether prior antidiabetic treatment affects stroke severity and outcome. To evaluate this association, we prospectively studied all patients who were admitted in our Department with acute ischaemic stroke (n = 378, mean age = 78.8 ± 6.5 years). The severity of stroke was assessed at admission with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. The outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale at discharge and with in-hospital mortality. A total of 123 patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus. At admission, there was a trend for lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale in patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors compared with patients treated with other antidiabetic agents (6.1 ± 7.5 vs 10.0 ± 9.2, respectively; p = 0.079). At discharge, patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors had lower modified Rankin Scale than patients treated with other antidiabetic agents (2.1 ± 1.9 vs 3.2 ± 2.1, respectively; p < 0.05). Patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors also had lower in-hospital mortality than patients treated with other antidiabetic agents (0.0% vs 15.1%, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, prior treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors in patients with acute ischaemic stroke appears to be associated with better functional outcome and lower mortality risk.