A gout drug taken at the right dose may cut heart attack and stroke risk in people with gout, a study of 109,504 patients in the UK, Sweden and Italy suggests.
Gout is a common arthritis caused by uric acid crystals forming in joints, triggering sudden severe pain, often in the big toe, feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows and knees.
Medicines such as allopurinol lower uric acid and can dissolve crystals when dosed correctly, which varies by person. Patients are usually advised to aim for under 360 micromol/L in blood.
Gout has been linked with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke.
Researchers analysed Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum records linked to hospital and mortality data from January 2007 to March 2021.
All participants were 18 or over, had gout and had uric acid levels above target before treatment.
They were split into two groups, one prescribed urate-lowering drugs, mainly allopurinol.
Researchers then assessed heart attacks, strokes or death from heart problems within five years of the first prescription.
Those on medication had a lower risk of heart problems over five years and fewer gout flares. Risks fell further in patients who achieved uric acid below 300 micromol/L.
University of Nottingham’s professor Abhishek Abhishek, who led the study, said: “People with gout are at an increased risk of illnesses such as heart disease and stroke.
“This is the first study to find that medicines such as allopurinol that are used to treat gout reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke if they are taken at the right dose.”
“The right dose varies from person to person and is the dose that gets the blood urate level to less than 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL).”
He described the findings as “very positive.”
He added: “Previous research from Nottingham showed treat-to-target urate-lowering treatment prevents gout flares.”
“This current study provides an added benefit of reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to these diseases.”
The UK Gout Society estimates gout affects around one in 40 people in the UK.
