A new study has found that a commonly prescribed medication for gout, the most common form of arthritis, may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke if taken at an appropriate dose.
This form of arthritis occurs due to the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, which can cause sudden and severe joint pain.
Medications such as allopurinol, when used in the correct dosage, lower uric acid levels and help dissolve these crystals.
Patients are usually advised to maintain uric acid levels below 360 micromoles per liter in their blood.
The study established a link between gout and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke.
The research was conducted on 109,504 individuals suffering from gout who had elevated uric acid levels. All participants were aged 18 years or older.
These individuals were divided into two groups, with one group receiving uric acid–lowering medications, the most common of which was allopurinol.
Researchers assessed how many participants experienced heart attacks, strokes, or heart-related deaths within five years after the first prescription.
The findings revealed that individuals who took the medication over five years had a lower risk of heart disease compared to the other group, along with reduced gout pain.
The risks were further reduced among patients whose uric acid levels dropped below 300 micromoles per liter. The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
