Study: No Increased CV Risks From Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors in Older Patients Treating Gout

There were no significant differences in cardiovascular risks in older patients initiating febuxostat therapy compared to allopurinol therapy for gout, results from a new cohort study in Circulation suggested. Study authors looked at Medicare claims data (2008-2013) on 24,936 febuxostat initiators and propensity-score matched them with 74,808 allopurinol initiators.

The primary study safety outcome was a composite of hospitalization for myocardial infarction or stroke, with individual endpoints of MI hospitalization, stroke, coronary revascularization, new and recurrent heart failure, and all-cause mortality as secondary endpoints. According to the results, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence rate of the primary study outcome between the two study groups. The researchers did report, however, a statistically insignificant trend toward increased all-cause mortality in long-term (3 or more years) febuxostat initiators. 

Source: Circulation