Credit score: Pixabay/CC0 Public Area
A broadly used, cheap gout drug may cut back coronary heart assaults and strokes in folks with heart problems, in keeping with a brand new assessment.
The work seems within the Cochrane Database of Systematic Opinions.
The assessment examined the results of low doses of colchicine, a drug used to deal with gout, and located no enhance in critical uncomfortable side effects.
Heart problems is commonly pushed by persistent low-grade irritation, which contributes to recurrent cardiovascular occasions equivalent to coronary heart assaults and strokes. Colchicine has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a promising possibility for folks with coronary heart illness.
A promising impact on cardiovascular danger
The assessment included 12 randomized managed trials involving practically 23,000 folks with a historical past of coronary heart illness, coronary heart assault or stroke. The research checked out sufferers who took colchicine for at the least six months, with doses of 0.5 mg a few times a day. Most individuals have been male (~80%) and the imply age was 57 to 74 years outdated. Half acquired colchicine, whereas the opposite half acquired both a placebo or no extra therapy alongside their regular care.
Total, these taking low-dose colchicine have been much less more likely to expertise a coronary heart assault or stroke. For each 1,000 folks handled, there have been 9 fewer coronary heart assaults and eight fewer strokes in contrast with these not taking the drug. Whereas there have been no critical hostile occasions recognized, sufferers who took colchicine have been extra more likely to have abdomen or digestive uncomfortable side effects, however these have been normally gentle and did not final lengthy.
“Among 200 people with cardiovascular disease—where we would normally expect around seven heart attacks and four strokes—using low-dose colchicine could prevent about two of each,” says Dr. Ramin Ebrahimi, co-lead creator from the College of Drugs in Greifswald, Germany. “Reductions like this can make a real difference for patients who live with ongoing, lifelong cardiovascular risk.”
A brand new use for a long-established drugs
As cardiovascular ailments are the main reason for loss of life globally, colchicine presents a promising cheap and accessible possibility for secondary prevention in high-risk sufferers.
“These results come from publicly-funded trials repurposing a very old, low-cost drug for an entirely new use,” says Lars Hemkens, senior creator from the College of Bern, Switzerland. “It shows the power of academic research to reveal treatment opportunities that traditional drug development often overlooks.”
The proof is much less clear in terms of whether or not colchicine impacts general loss of life charges or the necessity for procedures like coronary revascularization. The research did not present any info to say whether or not the drug improves high quality of life or reduces hospital stays. The authors stress that additional analysis is required in these areas.
Extra info:
Colchicine for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular occasions, Cochrane Database of Systematic Opinions (2025). DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014808.pub2
Supplied by
Cochrane
Quotation:
Frequent gout drug might cut back danger of coronary heart assault and stroke (2025, November 12)
retrieved 13 November 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-11-common-gout-drug-heart.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any truthful dealing for the aim of personal examine or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is offered for info functions solely.
