- Researchers say allopurinol and other drugs used to treat gout may help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Experts say these drugs can help reduce inflammation and reduce cardiovascular health risks.
- Diet can also be an important factor in the development of gout. Avoiding foods high in purines, such as red meat, can lower your risk.
Medications taken to treat gout can help gout patients reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham in the UK said in their findings that appropriate doses of the drug include: allopurinol Helps prevent heart attacks and strokes in gout patients.
They said the drug works by lowering uric acid levels in a person’s blood and dissolving urate crystals deposited in the joints.
gout It is a type of inflammatory arthritis,
The researchers said that people with serum uric acid levels below 360 micromol/L had fewer gout flare-ups. They concluded that lower uric acid levels were also associated with lower risk of cardiovascular events.
“People with gout are at increased risk for diseases such as heart disease and stroke.” Abhishek AbhishekDr. M.D., professor of rheumatology at the University of Nottingham’s medical school, led the study. statement. “This is the first study to find that drugs such as allopurinol, used to treat gout, reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke when taken in the right doses.”
Abhishek noted that the appropriate dose of allopurinol can vary from person to person.
In March 2025, the Nottingham research team published the following paper:
Cardioprotective effects were observed during the first 6 months of starting urate-lowering drugs such as allopurinol.
“Gout is an inflammatory disease, and chronic inflammation is known to contribute to heart disease, so it makes sense that treating gout can help reduce the risk of heart disease. heart disease in those affected patients.” Chen Han ChenMD, Interventional Therapy cardiologist He was medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in California but was not involved in the study.
“This study reaffirms the importance of appropriate treatment of gout to reduce other serious downstream risks such as heart disease,” Chen told Healthline.
In the latest study, researchers analyzed primary care data. from Clinical Practice Data Link Aurumapproximately 110,000 people participated Participants and associated hospital and death records from January 2007 to March 2021.
The research target was diagnosed with gout. All participants had serum uric acid levels ≥360 micromol/L. They were prescribed drugs to lower uric acid levels.
The researchers reported that participants who achieved serum uric acid levels below 360 micromol/L within 12 months of initial treatment had a higher 5-year survival rate and lower risk of major cardiovascular events than those with blood uric acid levels above 360 micromol/L.
The researchers added that the risk was even more significantly reduced in participants whose blood uric acid levels fell below 300 micromol/L. Participants with lower blood uric acid levels had fewer gout flare-ups.
“Previous research in Nottingham has shown that treatments that target lower uric acid levels prevent gout flare-ups,” Abhishek added. “This latest study provides the added benefit of reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from these diseases.”
jisung hongsaid M.D., a clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University who was not involved in the study. Previous research The risk of heart attack and stroke has been shown to increase 60 to 180 days after a gout flare-up.
“This is likely due to the large amount of systemic inflammation that accompanies gout flare-ups,” Hong explained. “This is why targeted treatments for gout to prevent gout recurrence are associated with a lower risk of heart attack.”
“High uric acid levels cause gout by causing crystals to form in joints and tissues and triggering inflammatory factors that circulate throughout the body, including the heart,” Chen added.
“We know that this inflammation contributes to heart disease over time. Allopurinol may reduce uric acid levels by lowering them.” inflammation It affects the entire body of gout patients and can lead to a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. ”
Gout is more common in men and the elderly. Asian Americans reportedly Highest recent increase rate In inter-ethnic situations.
Gout is a type of arthritis that can affect the joints and cause painful swelling. This condition commonly occurs in the big toe, foot, and ankle.
Gout is symptoms similar to things of rheumatoid arthritisHowever, rheumatoid arthritis can affect joints throughout the body. of symptoms include:
- Redness or discoloration
- swelling
- joint pain
Gout causes severe pain, and flare-ups can last for 1 to 2 weeks. If gout is left untreated, it can eventually lead to kidney damage.
Certain lifestyle factors can increase your risk of gout and rheumatoid arthritis. They include:
- smoking
- are overweight or obesity
- lack of exercise
- senior citizen
- diet
There is no cure for gout, but there are medications that can reduce symptoms and blood uric acid levels.
One of the things they have in common is medicine Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, is prescribed for gout and is sold under brand names such as Alloprim and Zyloprim.
Allopurinol can cause side effects that last for days or even weeks. Some of the more common side effects include:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- Increased liver enzymes
- muscle pain
- heat
- sleepiness
Hong told Healthline that a combination of drugs is the most effective initial treatment for gout. flarefollowed by lifelong treatment with allopurinol.
He noted that it can be difficult to convince gout patients to continue taking medication even after a gout attack has subsided.
“People with gout are often unaware of the increased risk of heart attack and stroke associated with this disease,” Hong says. “Most people don’t want to take gout medications long-term because they think gout just causes self-limiting episodes of painful joint inflammation and don’t like to take long-term medications.”
“This study gives gout patients another important reason to diligently take prescription drugs such as allopurinol,” Chen added.
diet It can be a major factor in the development of gout. certain foods High in purinesa naturally occurring substance that can increase uric acid levels and increase the risk of gout. These foods include:
Experts recommend gout patients to eat vegetables, fruits, whole grainlow-fat dairy products, egglegumes.
coffee vitamin Ccertain supplements can help manage gout symptoms. acupuncture is also proposed.