Yu Yang,1,2 Kan Wang,3 Shuchun Chen2, 4, 5
1 Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China;
2 Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China;
3 Department of Endoscopy, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China;
4 Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China;
5 Hebei Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China.
Correspondence: Shuchun Chen, Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, 348 Heping West Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050051, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 311 85988406, Email chenshuc2014@163.com
Abstract: Beyond glycemic control, hypoglycemic agents exhibit multifaceted effects that may influence pulmonary health in patients with diabetes mellitus. This narrative review synthesizes available evidence from preclinical and clinical studies on the impact of major hypoglycemic drug classes—including biguanides, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, α-glucosidase inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and insulin—on pulmonary diseases. Evidence suggests that these agents exert class-specific, and often conflicting, effects: preclinical studies support their protective potential in acute lung injury, while clinical data indicate variable efficacy in asthma, COPD, and respiratory infections including COVID-19. Conversely, some agents may be associated with increased risks of lung cancer or COPD exacerbations, underscoring the need for context-specific prescribing. Mechanistic insights from animal models primarily involve modulation of inflammatory, oxidative, and immune pathways. This narrative review aims to provide a clinical framework for personalizing hypoglycemic therapy in patients with comorbid pulmonary conditions, while underscoring the need for well-designed prospective studies to resolve existing controversies.
Keywords: hypoglycemic agents, pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, drug class-specific effects, mechanisms of action