Gout increases risk of vascular disease, especially for women

Gout has been found to increase the risk of a variety of vascular events in a new study that explored the links between the inflammatory condition and coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular events, experts report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The research team compared 8,836 people in the UK with gout to 39,766 matched controls without gout. None of those studied had a history of vascular disease and all were aged 50 years or older.
After taking into account gender, age, body mass index, tobacco and alcohol consumption, statin or aspirin use, and any history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, or chronic kidney disease, men and women with gout were at increased risk for vascular events overall. And the association appeared strongest for women.
Those involved in the research urge greater attention to screening for vascular risk in people diagnosed with gout. Even though international guidelines recommend screening for cardiovascular risk when gout is diagnosed, only one in four gout patients is actually assessed in this way.
“Both gout and vascular disease have historically been considered diseases of men,” says Dr Lorna Clarson who led the work. “More attention should be paid to prompt and reliable diagnosis of gout, followed by optimal management in female patients, including serious consideration of vascular risk reduction.”

Click here to read the original research.

Subscribe to Arthritis Digest, the UK’s fastest growing arthritis magazine for all the latest arthritis news, reviews and celebrity interviews. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products. Hard copy and digital versions both available. Click here for more information.

Image credit: Alex Holzknecht