Could A Gout Drug Protect Against Cardiovascular Events?

Use of colchicine was associated with a reduction in the elevated risk of cardiovascular events normally seen among patients with gout, according to a recent study.

Previous studies have suggested that colchicine, used for the treatment of gout, was beneficial for secondary cardiovascular protection, but little data is available on its cardiovascular effects in patients with gout.
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To examine this relationship, researchers analyzed data from 501 patients with gout given colchicine, matching them with gout patients given other drugs for their treatment. Primary outcomes included myocardial infarction, stroke, or transient ischemic attack.

After 16.5 months of follow-up, 28 cardiovascular events occurred in colchicine users and 82 occurred among non-users. Incidence rates were 35.6 per 1000 person-years and 81.8 per 1000 person-years for users and non-users, respectively.

Overall, colchicine use was associated with a 49% reduction in risk of cardiovascular outcomes and a 73% reduction in all-cause mortality.

These results suggest that long-term use of colchicine—normally only used for acute attacks and in the short-term—could offer extra protection to patients with gout, who normally experience 30% to 60% increased risk of cardiovascular events.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Solomon DH, Liu C, Kuo I, et al. Effects of colchicine on risk of cardiovascular events and mortality among patients with gout: a cohort study using electronic medical records linked with Medicare claims. Ann Rheum Dis. November 2015. [epub ahead of print] doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207984.