THURSDAY, Feb. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Gout is associated with an increased risk of heart attack in women, as previously observed in men, although the risk is higher in women, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Noting that gout is associated with a higher risk of heart attack in men but its effect in women is unknown, Mary A. De Vera and colleagues from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, compared the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 9,642 gout patients (3,890 women) and 48,210 matched controls (19,450 women) with no history of ischemic heart disease.
During a median follow-up of seven years, the researchers identified 3,268 incident cases of AMI, of which 996 occurred in women. After adjusting for several factors, women with gout had a higher risk of AMI overall (relative risk, 1.39) and non-fatal AMI (relative risk, 1.41) compared with women without gout. The risks were found to be higher than those for men (relative risk, 1.11 for both overall AMI and non-fatal AMI).
"These population-based data suggest that women with gout have an increased risk for AMI and the magnitude of excess risk is higher than in men," De Vera and colleagues conclude. "These findings provide support for the aggressive management of cardiovascular risk factors for male and female patients with gout."
One author reported financial and consulting relationships with TAP Pharmaceuticals and Savient.
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