26 Jul 2023 • A study using observational data from the entire population of British Columbia, Canada, found that treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes and gout using a SGLT2 inhibitor was associated with fewer gout flares compared to those treated with a DPP-4 inhibitor.

• The study included 15,067 adults with both conditions, and after propensity-score matching, 4,075 matched pairs were identified.
• The primary outcome measured the recurrent gout flare counts during follow-up requiring medical attention. The total gout flare rates were 52.4/1000 person-years for SGLT2 inhibitor users and 79.7/1000 person-years for DPP-4 inhibitor users, with an adjusted rate ratio of 0.66, indicating a significant reduction in gout flares with SGLT2 inhibitor use.
• Secondary endpoints, such as the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke, were also examined. SGLT2 inhibitor initiation was significantly linked to a reduced hazard ratio of 0.69 for myocardial infarction compared to DPP-4 inhibitor initiation.

However, there was no significant difference in stroke incidence between the two groups. The study suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors may be a promising option for managing gout flares in patients with type 2 diabetes and could also potentially offer cardiovascular benefits.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine | Read full story