To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin (Forxiga^TM) combined with metformin (MET) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Several databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed were searched by computer. To collect a randomized controlled trial of dapagliflozin combined with metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Quality evaluation, data extraction and data analysis of the literature were condueted. Glycosylated hemoglobin level, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, fasting insulin, islet β - cell function, insulin resistance index, the incidence of adverse events, hypoglycemia and urinary tract infection were analyzed by RevMan5.4 software.

A total of 9 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 867 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were included in the final analysis. As it turns out, the efficacy of dapagliflozin combined with MET group was significantly better than that of metformin alone (P<0.05), and the safety of the combined group had no statistically significant differince (P>0.05).

Compared with metformin monotherapy, the combination therapy of dapagliflozin and metformin yields significantly improved clinical outcomes in T2DM patients without increasing the incidence of adverse drug reactions. These findings provide robust scientific evidence for the rational clinical application of this therapeutic regimen.