Patients who are dealing with both gout and type 2 diabetes may have a new treatment option to consider.
A study published on July 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that a class of drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) can reduce the risk of recurrent gout flares, gout-related hospital visits, and some cardiovascular issues.
Study Methods and Findings
The research was led by Natalie McCormick, Ph.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Her team studied patients with both gout and type 2 diabetes who were starting on either SGLT2is or another class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4is).
After matching the two groups for comparison, the researchers found that patients starting on SGLT2is had fewer gout flares and gout-related hospital visits than those starting on DPP-4is.
Specifically, the rate of gout flares was 52.4 events per 1,000 person-years among those starting on SGLT2is compared to 79.7 events per 1,000 person-years among those starting on DPP-4is.
The risk of gout-related hospital visits and emergency department visits was also lower among those starting on SGLT2is.
Cardiovascular Benefits and Risks
Interestingly, the researchers also found cardiovascular benefits associated with SGLT2is.
The risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) was lower among those starting on SGLT2is, but the risk of stroke was not significantly different between the two groups.
On the other hand, patients starting on SGLT2is were found to have a higher risk of genital infections, while the risk of osteoarthritis was not changed.
Implications and Conclusion
Given these findings, the researchers suggest that SGLT2is could be a valuable addition to current gout treatments, particularly for patients with type 2 diabetes.
These medications may offer a way to manage both the burden of gout and the cardiometabolic consequences that often accompany diabetes.
However, it’s important to note that all medications have risks and benefits. While SGLT2is may offer advantages in terms of gout management and heart health, they also appear to come with an increased risk of genital infections.
As always, patients should discuss all treatment options with their healthcare provider to make an informed decision that takes their overall health situation into account.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about How to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes and 5 vitamins that may prevent complications in diabetes.
The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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