Lancet Rheumatol

Colchicine use tied to lower CV risk in gout patients

March 28, 2025

Study details: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, focusing on 99,800 gout patients initiating urate-lowering therapy (ULT). The study compared cardiovascular event rates between patients receiving colchicine prophylaxis (n=16,028) and those without prophylaxis (n=83,772) over 180 days. The primary outcome was MI or stroke within 180 days.

Results: Cardiovascular events were lower in patients with colchicine prophylaxis (28.8 per 1000 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25.2–33.2) than in those without (35.3 per 1000 person-years; 95% CI, 33.0–37.9). The weighted rate difference was –6.5 (95% CI, –9.4 to –3.6) per 1000 person-years, and the weighted hazard ratio was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69–0.94).

Clinical impact: Colchicine prophylaxis at ULT initiation was associated with significantly reduced cardiovascular event risk in gout patients. This finding supports the use of colchicine for flare prophylaxis to mitigate cardiovascular risks, highlighting its potential benefit beyond gout management.

Source:

Cipolletta E, et al. (2025, March). Lancet Rheumatol. Cardiovascular events in patients with gout initiating urate-lowering therapy with or without colchicine for flare prophylaxis: a retrospective new-user cohort study using linked primary care, hospitalisation, and mortality data. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39708831/