The potential of colchicine for lowering the risk of cardiovascular events in type 1 diabetes

In type 1 diabetes, average life expectancy is reduced by >10 years as compared with outside of diabetes. Residual cardiovascular risk defines high cardiovascular event rate despite modern, guideline-recommended standard of care of established risk factors like hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and glycaemic control, and it adds importantly to these lost years of life in type 1 diabetes due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases like myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke. With a growing understanding of inflammation as an important driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, residual inflammatory risk is a novel and common risk factor and a promising target for lowering residual cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetes. Interestingly, the inexpensive anti-inflammatory agent colchicine reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 25% in cardiovascular outcome trials in the secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Here, we summarize the role of inflammation as a driver of atherosclerosis and review current evidence linking inflammation and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes. Also, we provide an overview of the evidence base for targeting residual inflammatory risk with colchicine for lowering residual cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetes.