Gout Raises Heart-Attack Risk in Older Women

Gout, a common disease of the aristocracy in the time of Henry VIII, is alive and well in the 21st century. A form of inflammatory arthritis, gout is known for causing significant pain and tenderness in the joints. But its real danger is increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI). A recent study found that women age 65 and older with gout were at greater risk of MI than men with the disease. The study that reached this conclusion was reported in the Feb. 2 online issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.