02.10.13
Double heart attack risk for those with gout
Patients with gout are twice as likely to suffer from heart attack or stroke than those without, new research suggests.
Researchers from the University of Oxford used data from NHS England and the ONS between 1963 and 2011 to trace the link between gout and risk factors for heart attack and strokes.
The study, which is published in the journal Rheumatology, highlights the need to address co-morbidities and include preventative measures within gout treatment.
Olena Seminog, lead researcher, said: “By analysing a huge dataset spanning a long period of time for all of England our group found that gout patients have double the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. This evidence could help to guide ways of improving cardiovascular health for people with gout, while also suggesting that more research is needed to reveal the effects of uric acid on our health.”
Dr Chris Deighton, president of the British Society for Rheumatology, said: “This research reminds us that gout needs to be considered in a much broader context than just inflammatory arthritis.
“The vast majority of care for gout takes place in primary care. GPs need to know that gout is not only a highly curable form of arthritis, but these patients also need vigilance for their increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. High quality holistic care of people with gout may not only improve their quality of life, but also the quantity of years lived.”
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