The condition is more common in men, and is known to significantly increase their risk of heart attack. However, little has been investigated about the impact of gout on women’s heart health.
This study is the first such attempt to gauge heart disease risk for women with the condition.
Details of the study
To reach this conclusion, researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine examined data derived from the Canadian British Columbia Linked Health Database, involving 9,500 gout patients, and 48,000 people without the disease, aged 65 and older.
For the study, the researchers tracked the cardiovascular health of all the participants for an average of seven years.
As many as, 3,268 fatal, and non-fatal heart attacks had occurred during the follow up period, including one-third in 996 women.
Women with gout had higher heart disease risk
Women with gout were 39 percent more likely to have a heart attack of any kind, and 41 percent were more likely to have a non-fatal heart attack compared to women who did not have gout, noted the researchers.
Overall, the risk of heart attack was found to be higher among women than men. Among men, those who had gout had an 11 percent higher risk of fatal or non-fatal heart attack compared to their counterparts who did not suffer from this medical condition.
Excessive uric acid deposits may enhance the levels of inflammation, and platelet stickiness, factors thought to elevate the risk of heart disease, the researchers said.
The findings held true even after accounting for factors likely to manipulate the results, such as age, other underlying health problems, and use of prescription drugs.
Findings of the study have been published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Gout: the painful joint disease
Gout is a condition with recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis due to excessive deposits of uric acid in the blood.
It can cause an attack of sudden burning pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint, usually a big toe. These attacks can happen over and over, unless gout is treated.
The most common symptom of gout is a nighttime attack of swelling, tenderness, redness, and sharp pain in your big toe, according to WebMD.
The chances of developing this condition are higher if you are overweight, drink too much alcohol, or eat too much meat.
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