People with gout have 58% higher risk of heart disease, UL study finds

Researchers at University of Limerick have found that people suffering from gout are at higher risk of death from heart disease and other illnesses.

The study carried out at UL’s graduate entry medical school showed people with gout, which affects about 180,000 people in Ireland, are a 58% higher risk of death from heart disease, and 42% more likely to die from all other illnesses.

Prof Austin Stack headed the team, which examined the relationships of gout and serum uric acid with mortality over a 10-year period in 15,773 people.