A new study has found that the same medications used to treat gout can also lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with gout.
The research was led by experts from the University of Nottingham and published in JAMA Internal Medicine. It included researchers from universities in the UK, Sweden, and Italy.
Gout is a common form of arthritis caused by too much urate in the blood. This leads to painful crystals forming in and around the joints. It often causes sudden joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Gout affects about one in 40 adults in the UK and EU. People with gout are also more likely to suffer from heart problems such as heart disease and stroke.
To treat gout, doctors often prescribe medications like allopurinol. These medicines lower the amount of urate in the blood and help dissolve the painful crystals.
When the right dose is taken, and urate levels are reduced to below 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL), patients usually have fewer gout flare-ups. But until now, it wasn’t clear whether reaching this target urate level could also protect the heart.
In this new study, the researchers wanted to know if lowering blood urate to below 360 micromol/L using medications could also lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with gout.
The lead researcher, Professor Abhishek, explained that this is the first study to show that when gout is treated properly with the right dose of urate-lowering drugs, it can also reduce the chances of serious heart problems.
The research team used healthcare data from nearly 110,000 patients with gout, collected between 2007 and 2021. All of these patients were over 18 and had high urate levels before treatment.
The researchers compared two groups: one group managed to lower their urate levels to below the target within a year (called the T2T or “treat-to-target” group), and the other group did not reach this target (non-T2T group).
They then looked at what happened to these patients over the next five years. The results showed that the group who reached the target urate level had a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths related to heart disease.
They also had fewer gout flare-ups. The benefits were even greater for people who managed to get their urate levels below 300 micromol/L (5 mg/dL).
This study used a method called an “emulated target trial,” which analyzes real-world data and can produce results faster than traditional clinical trials. It also helps researchers study treatments in large populations without the time and cost of running new experiments.
The findings are important because they suggest that treating gout effectively doesn’t just reduce pain from flare-ups—it may also save lives by protecting the heart. The results especially matter for people with high or very high heart disease risk.
Professor Abhishek noted that these findings build on earlier research from Nottingham showing that treat-to-target gout treatment helps reduce flare-ups. This latest study adds to that by showing a clear benefit for heart health as well.
In summary, this research shows that people with gout should aim to lower their urate levels with proper treatment. Doing so may not only relieve their joint pain but also reduce their chances of having a heart attack or stroke. This highlights the importance of regular checkups, proper medication, and keeping urate levels under control.
If you care about pain, please read studies about how to manage your back pain, and Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing common native American plant may help reduce diarrhea and pain.
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