Treating hyperuricemia of gout: safety and efficacy of febuxostat and allopurinol in older versus younger subjects

Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids. 2011 Dec;30(12):1011-7. doi: 10.1080/15257770.2011.603715.

Abstract

Despite an increasing incidence of gout in older age patients with multiple metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities, there are limited data addressing whether currently available urate-lowering therapy is comparably effective and safe in older (≥65 years of age) versus younger (<65 years of age) patients. In this secondary analysis of data from the CONFIRMS trial, we found that among 374 older subjects, urate-lowering therapy with approved doses of febuxostat or commonly prescribed doses of allopurinol was at least comparable to that in 1894 younger subjects and was well tolerated despite high rates of renal impairment and cardiovascular comorbidities in the older subjects.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00430248.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Allopurinol / adverse effects*
  • Allopurinol / therapeutic use*
  • Febuxostat
  • Gout / blood
  • Gout / complications*
  • Gout / drug therapy*
  • Gout Suppressants / adverse effects
  • Gout Suppressants / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hyperuricemia / blood
  • Hyperuricemia / complications*
  • Hyperuricemia / drug therapy*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thiazoles / adverse effects
  • Thiazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Gout Suppressants
  • Thiazoles
  • Febuxostat
  • Uric Acid
  • Allopurinol

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00430248