Ibuprofen and naproxen reduce cardiovascular risk in gout patients, reveals study

A recent research found that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in the patients with gout. The key findings were published in the recent edition of Rheumatology International journal.

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot and swollen joint. It is typically treated with medications that lower uric acid levels and anti-inflammatory drugs. While NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac are effective at managing pain and inflammation associated with gout, these have been linked to potential cardiovascular risks due to their prothrombotic, hypertensive and proarrhythmic side effects.

This research was conducted over a span of 23 years from 1997 to 2020 and analyzed data from a total of 59,150 Danish residents who experienced their first gout attack and later suffered a cardiovascular event. This study utilized a case-crossover design and employed the Mantel–Haenszel method to assess the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for cardiovascular outcomes related with NSAID use. The results indicated a 12% overall decrease in the odds of experiencing cardiovascular events among the individuals using NSAIDs. Also, the use of ibuprofen and naproxen was linked with reduced odds of a cardiovascular event with odds ratios of 0.92 and 0.85, respectively. Importantly, diclofenac did not show a statistically significant effect with an odds ratio of 0.97.