A widely available drug used for gout may help prevent heart attacks and stroke in people with cardiovascular disease. The corresponding review was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
"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. Reductions like this can make a real difference for patients who live with ongoing, lifelong cardiovascular risk,” said co-lead author of the study, Dr. Ramin Ebrahimi, from the University Medicine Greifswald, Germany, in a press release.
Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory medication used to prevent and treat gout. As cardiovascular disease is often caused by low-level inflammation in the body, several studies in recent years have examined the effects of low-dose colchicine to prevent further cardiovascular events after a first incident.
In the current study, researchers assessed 12 randomized controlled trials including almost 23,000 patients with cardiovascular disease to understand more about how the drug affects the condition. Patients were aged between 57 and 74 years old on average, and around 80% were male. Half received colchicine, while others received either a placebo or no added medication on top of standard care. Colchicine was typically dosed at 0.5 mg once or twice daily and was taken for at least six months.
Ultimately, the researchers found that participants taking colchicine had a significantly lower risk of heart attack and stroke. While taking the drug was not associated with an increased risk of serious side effects, it was linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal adverse events such as diarrhoea and nausea. These, however, were mild and passed quickly.
‘We have high confidence in the finding that low‐dose colchicine reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Our level of confidence in the other findings is moderate, so it is possible that future studies may change these findings. Further research is needed to investigate the long‐term effects on mortality and quality‐of‐life. This will require studies that last longer and involve more people,” wrote the researchers in their review.
Sources: Science Daily, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews