An unexpected medicine for heart attack and stroke found

A new Cochrane review analyzed 12 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 23,000 people who had cardiovascular disease, heart attack, or stroke.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to foreign media, participants took the gout medication - colchicine - for at least six months, most often at a dosage of 0.5 mg once or twice a day. About 80% of the subjects were men, with the average age ranging from 57 to 74 years. Half of the volunteers received colchicine, the other half - placebo or standard therapy.

Those who took low doses of colchicine had fewer heart attacks and strokes: for every 1000 people, 9 heart attacks and 8 strokes were prevented compared to the group without the medication. No serious side effects were identified, although mild and temporary gastrointestinal disorders were more common in the colchicine group.

"Among 200 patients with cardiovascular disease, who would typically expect about seven heart attacks and four strokes, the use of low-dose colchicine could prevent approximately two cases of each," noted Dr. Ramin Ebrahimi, co-chair of the author group from the University of Medicine in Greifswald.

Cardiovascular diseases are often associated with chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Colchicine reduces inflammatory processes, which is why it is considered as a potentially beneficial medication for such patients.

However, questions remain about whether colchicine affects overall mortality or reduces the need for procedures such as coronary revascularization. The study also did not confirm that the drug improves quality of life or reduces the duration of hospitalization. The authors emphasize the need for further research.