Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2025
Investigating the Alleviating Effects of Bacillus cereus Administration on Colitis through Gut Microbiota Modulation
Published on: July 27, 2022
Association between colchicine use and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with gout: a nationwide nested
Hyung Woo Kim1,2, Minjin Kang3, Hyunsun Lim3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Kidney Disease Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Colchicine use increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events and related mortality in patients with new-onset gout. This finding highlights potential cardiovascular risks associated with colchicine in this population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a critical concern in managing gout patients.
- The role of colchicine, a common gout medication, in ASCVD risk is not well-established.
- Understanding colchicine's impact is vital for optimizing patient care and preventing cardiovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between colchicine use and the incidence of ASCVD events.
- To examine the relationship between colchicine use and ASCVD-related mortality.
- To explore these associations in patients with newly diagnosed gout initiating first-line therapy.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study using the Korean National Health Insurance System claims database.
- Included patients with incident gout initiating allopurinol, without prior ASCVD history.
- Matched cases (ASCVD event or mortality) with controls based on demographics and comorbidities, assessing colchicine exposure via cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) and duration.
Main Results:
- A cohort of 9346 cases and 35,070 controls was analyzed, predominantly male.
- Higher cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) of colchicine showed a curvilinear association with increased ASCVD event odds (ORs ranging from 1.09 to 1.21).
- Similar associations were observed for ASCVD events and ASCVD-related mortality, indicating a dose-dependent risk.
Conclusions:
- Colchicine use is linked to a higher risk of ASCVD in patients with newly diagnosed gout and no prior ASCVD history.
- The findings suggest a potential increase in cardiovascular risk with colchicine therapy in this specific patient group.
- Further research may be warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and confirm these associations.
Objective:
The association between colchicine use and the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the association between colchicine use and new development of ASCVD and ASCVD-related mortality in patients with incident gout.
Methods:
This nested case-control study utilized the nationwide claims database of the Korean National Health Insurance System. Patients without a history of ASCVD who developed incident gout and were newly started on allopurinol as first-line therapy between 2011 and 2016 were initially screened. Individuals who experienced ASCVD event or ASCVD-related mortality during the follow-up period were matched with four controls for age, sex, income, residential area, co-morbidities and medications. The main exposure was colchicine use, assessed by (i) the cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) and (ii) the cumulative duration. For secondary analyses, the risk of ASCVD events and ASCVD-related mortality were examined separately.
Results:
Overall, 9346 patients with ASCVD event or ASCVD-related mortality were matched with 35 070 controls. The patient population was predominantly male. Compared with non-users, a curvilinear relationship between higher cDDDs of colchicine and the odds of ASCVD event was observed; the odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.09 (1.04, 1.15) for <90 cDDDs, 1.20 (1.07, 1.33) for 80-179 cDDDs and 1.21 (1.09, 1.35) for ≥180 cDDDs. This association was similarly observed for ASCVD events and ASCVD-related mortality.
Conclusion:
Colchicine use was associated with an increased risk of ASCVD in patients with newly diagnosed gout who did not have a prior history of ASCVD.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
01:20Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
01:19Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
01:18Cardiovascular Drugs: Classification based on Therapeutic Indications
01:29Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...