Secondary CVD Prevention with Colchicine

Low-dose colchicine reduces myocardial infarction and stroke in people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) without increasing serious adverse events, although it raises the risk of mild gastrointestinal symptoms and shows no clear effect on mortality or revascularization. In an updated Cochrane review of 12 randomized controlled trials including 22,983 participants followed for 6 to 80 months, colchicine 0.5 mg once or twice daily provided high-certainty reductions in myocardial infarction (RR 0.74; absolute reduction 9 per 1000) and stroke (RR 0.67; absolute reduction 8 per 1000). Serious adverse events were not increased, but gastrointestinal complaints were more common (RR 1.68). Moderate-certainty evidence showed little to no effect on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or coronary revascularization, and evidence was lacking for quality of life or hospitalizations. Overall, these findings support colchicine as an effective secondary-prevention therapy for reducing CVD events, while highlighting the need for further research in specific patient subgroups and clinical contexts. CVD is often caused by low‐level inflammation throughout the body, leading to repeated CVD events. Colchicine is an established anti‐inflammatory medication that is cheap, widely available. Source: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/