Diabetes Medication Could Be Beneficial For People With Gout

VANCOUVER, BC, July 25, 2023 /CNW/ - People with gout suffer from painful joint flares that affect their quality of life and may also increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Reducing these episodes is key to managing this disease, but the use of conventional gout medications has been suboptimal. Results of a study done by Arthritis Research Canada's scientists show that a newer medication used to treat type 2 diabetes can help reduce gout flares.

This study used data from BC residents to investigate if sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), a recently approved drug to treat type 2 diabetes, could help people with gout. Previous studies have shown that SGLT2i can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, kidney disease progression, and premature mortality. This medication can also lower the causal blood marker for gout.

During a 7-year period, this research studied BC residents diagnosed with both gout and type 2 diabetes assessing how often they had gout flares after starting one of two medications for type 2 diabetes, SGLT2i or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i). Results revealed that those who taking SGLT2i had a significant reduction of their overall flare rate, of flares requiring emergency department visits and of risk of a heart attack.

"Our findings provide evidence that SGLT2i could provide multiple benefits for people with gout, both by potentially reducing the number of flares they experience and by helping treat other cardiovascular and metabolic conditions," said Dr. Natalie McCormick, Research Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. "In the future, we'd like to assess the impact of this medication in people with gout but without diabetes."

To read more about this research study click here.

ABOUT ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CANADA:

Arthritis Research Canada is the largest clinical arthritis research institution in North America. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living with arthritis through research and engagement. Arthritis Research Canada's scientific director, Dr. Diane Lacaille is leading a team of over 100 researchers, trainees and staff whose life-changing research is creating a future where people living with arthritis have the knowledge and tools to triumph over pain and disability. Arthritis Research Canada is now conducting arthritis research from coast to coast with centres in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Nova Scotia and scientists affiliated with seven major universities: University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Calgary, Université Laval, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and Dalhousie University. Arthritis Research Canada is leading research aimed at preventing arthritis, facilitating early diagnosis, finding new and better treatments, and improving quality of life.

SOURCE Arthritis Research Canada

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Victoria Rubio, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Arthritis Research Canada, 604-207-4010 or [email protected]