OBJECTIVES To synthesize the available information on the therapeutic value of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from the point of view of the patient-reported outcomes (PROs). METHODS A systematic review was performed on International (Pub Med, WOK, Scopus, Cochrane Library) and Spanish (IBECS, MEDES) databases. Observational studies and narrative or systematic reviews regarding T2DM patients and use of DPP-4 inhibitors until June 2013 were selected. RESULTS We identified 1,713 publications; 317 were excluded after duplicate review, 1,383 by title/abstract review and 9 after applying inclusion criteria (n=9). A total of 4 studies conducted in Italy (n=1), Germany (n=1), USA (n=1), and one international (including Spain) were selected. Three publications had a retrospective design and 1 was prospective. Two studies reported information about adherence/persistence, one about satisfaction and one about preferences. No information about HRQoL was identified. Patients receiving DPP-4 inhibitors were more likely to be adherent than those treated with Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists [Odds Ratio=0.40; 95% CI=0.37-0.42], sulfonylurea [OR=0.49; 95% CI=0.46-0.52] or thiazolidinediones [OR=0.54; 95% CI=0.51-0.57]; moreover, DPP-4 inhibitors were associated with a lower risk of treatment discontinuation [Hazard Ratio=0.74; 95% CI=0.71-0.76], explained by a greater tolerability and a lower risk of hypoglycemia. Combination of DPP-4 inhibitors and metformin increased patient’s satisfaction by a 30%, associated with higher control of glucose levels. Most of the patients preferred DPP-4 inhibitors to GLP-1 agonists (85% vs. 15%; p<0.001) as first option. In the Spanish population, the proportion of patients preferring DPP-4 inhibitors was even higher (90.4% vs. 9.6%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS PROs in DPP-4 inhibitors are poorly described in the literature. Nevertheless DPP-4 inhibitors are preferred as first option and are associated with higher persistence and satisfaction, mainly due to higher perception of glycemic control of glucose level and lower hypoglycemia risk.