A medication widely utilized in gout therapy might also serve to lessen the danger of cardiovascular complications. This is the conclusion reached by a team of researchers from several European nations, based on an analysis of data from over 100 thousand patients. The DPA GmbH portal reports this.
Scientists utilized information from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum database, comparing prescription details with hospitalization and mortality records spanning 2007–2021. The study incorporated data for 109,504 adults with gout who exhibited elevated uric acid levels at the start of treatment. Some patients were given drugs that lowered its concentration, primarily allopurinol; others were not.
Over the five years following the initial prescription, experts monitored instances of heart attack, stroke, and death from cardiovascular ailments. It emerged that those taking urate-lowering agents had reduced such risks. They also experienced fewer gout flare-ups. The most apparent protective impact was seen in those who attained a uric acid level below 300 µmol/L.
Gout is a form of arthritis characterized by elevated uric acid levels in the blood. It accumulates and crystallizes in the joints, inciting sharp pain attacks and inflammatory responses, typically around the big toe. Attacks can recur because the crystals remain in the tissues.
According to current understanding, the main causes of gout are genetic predisposition and a diminished capacity of the kidneys and intestines to excrete excess uric acid.
Without treatment, the ailment progresses: attacks become more frequent, affecting several joints simultaneously, and issues become irreversible.
The new findings suggest the necessity of monitoring uric acid levels: both for preventing painful flare-ups and for reducing cardiovascular hazards.
About the Author
