Colchicine

Colchicine is an old medicine, best known for gout, that has anti-inflammatory effects. In the LoDoCo2 trial, a low daily dose lowered the rate of heart and blood-vessel events in people with chronic coronary disease, though deaths from non-cardiovascular causes were reported at a higher rate with colchicine, with an interval that includes no difference.

Drug
In this atlas

Overview

Technical summary

RxNorm ingredient 2683. The LoDoCo2 abstract tested 0.5 mg once daily. The registry record of a separate trial, COLCOT (NCT02551094), lists coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction as conditions and was committed as a source; its results are not recorded here.

About this drug

Level: Substance
Mechanism: Anti-inflammatory effects (LoDoCo2 abstract); the abstract gives no further mechanism

Claims and evidence

Context Patients with chronic coronary disease (LoDoCo2)

Recipient: Adult
Population: Patients with chronic coronary disease; 5522 were randomised (abstract). The abstract does not give an age range. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, which was not read.
Care setting: Not stated in the source (abstract only)
Geography: Not stated in the source (abstract only)
Life stage: Adult patients; no age range is stated in the abstract
Follow-up: Median follow-up 28.6 months (abstract).

Eligibility: 1 inclusion criterion; exclusion criteria not stated

Included: Chronic coronary disease
Excluded: None stated

Effect Interventional Certainty not assessed

In LoDoCo2, 5522 patients with chronic coronary disease were randomised to colchicine 0.5 mg once daily (2762) or placebo (2760). Over a median of 28.6 months, the primary composite end point occurred in 187 patients (6.8%) on colchicine and 264 (9.6%) on placebo (2.5 against 3.6 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio 0.69, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.83). The key secondary composite occurred in 115 (4.2%) and 157 (5.7%) (hazard ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.92). Death from noncardiovascular causes was higher with colchicine (0.7 against 0.5 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.31).
Applies to Adult
- Patients with chronic coronary disease; 5522 were randomised (abstract). The abstract does not give an age range. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, which was not read.
- Not stated in the source (abstract only)
- Not stated in the source (abstract only)
- Adult patients; no age range is stated in the abstract
Follow-up Median follow-up 28.6 months (abstract).
Certainty method
Not assessed

Limitations
One randomised, double-blind trial; the abstract names the National Health Medical Research Council of Australia and others as funders. The higher rate of noncardiovascular death is reported as given and its interval includes 1. This record covers LoDoCo2 only. A separate trial of colchicine after a recent heart attack is registered as COLCOT (NCT02551094); this atlas records its registry entry and not its results. Abstract only.

Last checked
2026-10-14

Next evidence check due
Not scheduled
Sources and citations (15)
1. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1: "A total of 5522 patients underwent randomization; 2762 were assigned to the colchicine group and 2760 to the placebo group."
  
  How it applies
  Abstract of the paper from PubMed; the full text was not read.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
2. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1: "In a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, we assigned patients with chronic coronary disease to receive 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily or matching placebo."
  
  How it applies
  Dose and comparator.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
3. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2: "The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous (nonprocedural) myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or ischemia-driven coronary revascularization."
  
  How it applies
  Primary end point.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
4. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, METHODS, sentence 3: "The key secondary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke."
  
  How it applies
  Key secondary end point.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
5. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 2: "The median duration of follow-up was 28.6 months."
  
  How it applies
  Median follow-up.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
6. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 3, fragment 1 of 2: "A primary end-point event occurred in 187 patients (6.8%) in the colchicine group and in 264 patients (9.6%) in the placebo group (incidence,"
  
  How it applies
  Primary end point counts.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
7. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 3, fragment 2 of 2: "2.5 vs. 3.6 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57 to 0.83; P<0.001)."
  
  How it applies
  Primary end point rates and hazard ratio.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
8. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 4, fragment 1 of 2: "A key secondary end-point event occurred in 115 patients (4.2%) in the colchicine group and in 157 patients (5.7%) in the placebo group (incidence,"
  
  How it applies
  Key secondary counts.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
9. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 4, fragment 2 of 2: "1.5 vs. 2.1 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.92; P = 0.007)."
  
  How it applies
  Key secondary hazard ratio.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
10. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 6, fragment 1 of 2: "The incidence of death from noncardiovascular causes was higher in the colchicine group than in the placebo group (incidence,"
  
  How it applies
  Noncardiovascular death, rates.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
11. Supports Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 6, fragment 2 of 2: "0.7 vs. 0.5 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.99 to 2.31)."
  
  How it applies
  Noncardiovascular death, hazard ratio.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
12. Background Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, BACKGROUND, sentence 1, fragment 1 of 2: "Evidence from a recent trial has shown that the antiinflammatory effects of colchicine reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with recent myocardial"
  
  How it applies
  Background: an earlier trial in recent myocardial infarction.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
13. Background Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease
  
  Publication · The New England journal of medicine · Edition PubMed record (abstract and bibliographic data) from NCBI E-utilities. The full text and the version of record were not fetched. · Published 2020-11-05 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372 · PMID: 32865380
  
  Locator
  Abstract, CONCLUSIONS, sentence 2: "(Funded by the National Health Medical Research Council of Australia and others; LoDoCo2 Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12614000093684.)."
  
  How it applies
  Funding and registry note in the abstract.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  Not reported
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  ddd2ae03d4ef00e0ec60f3605e8bbcff12e505f23739010ac34d3a85292c96e6
  
  Reuse basis
  PubMed record fetched through NCBI E-utilities. Only the hash of the bytes is kept, because publisher copyright may apply to the abstract (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/). Short factual quotations under 25 words, with the citation.
14. Background Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (COLCOT)
  
  Registry · U.S. National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov) · Edition ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record, last update posted 2020-10-19. · NCT: NCT02551094
  
  Locator
  protocolSection.identificationModule.officialTitle: "Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (COLCOT)"
  
  How it applies
  COLCOT registry record exists; its results are not recorded here.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  2020-10-19
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  853218a89e798bbb4547b5b565e25641d6bb71af58d65795257862c561df8e5b
  
  Reuse basis
  Registry record. The raw API JSON is committed. The ClinicalTrials.gov terms page is rendered by JavaScript and its text was not read by a script, so the redistribution basis is unverified; any quotation stays short. The raw file is committed at research/snapshots/cg-ctgov-NCT02551094.json.
15. Background Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (COLCOT)
  
  Registry · U.S. National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov) · Edition ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record, last update posted 2020-10-19. · NCT: NCT02551094
  
  Locator
  protocolSection.conditionsModule.conditions[1]: "Myocardial Infarction"
  
  How it applies
  COLCOT lists myocardial infarction as a condition.
  
  Retrieved
  2026-10-14T18:18:41Z
  
  Source effective date
  2020-10-19
  
  Source state
  Current
  
  Snapshot hash
  853218a89e798bbb4547b5b565e25641d6bb71af58d65795257862c561df8e5b
  
  Reuse basis
  Registry record. The raw API JSON is committed. The ClinicalTrials.gov terms page is rendered by JavaScript and its text was not read by a script, so the redistribution basis is unverified; any quotation stays short. The raw file is committed at research/snapshots/cg-ctgov-NCT02551094.json.

Clinical links

Each link reports what one cited claim says about one population. "Evaluated for" means studied, not shown to work. These links do not show that anything is effective or right for you.

Claim, not a settled fact Fewer events in chronic coronary disease at low dose: Coronary artery disease (Evaluated for)
Applies to Adult
- Patients with chronic coronary disease; 5522 were randomised (abstract). The abstract does not give an age range. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, which was not read.
- Not stated in the source (abstract only)
- Not stated in the source (abstract only)
- Adult patients; no age range is stated in the abstract
Follow-up Median follow-up 28.6 months (abstract).
In LoDoCo2, 5522 patients with chronic coronary disease were randomised to colchicine 0.5 mg once daily (2762) or placebo (2760). Over a median of 28.6 months, the primary composite end point occurred in 187 patients (6.8%) on colchicine and 264 (9.6%) on placebo (2.5 against 3.6 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio 0.69, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.83). The key secondary composite occurred in 115 (4.2%) and 157 (5.7%) (hazard ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.92). Death from noncardiovascular causes was higher with colchicine (0.7 against 0.5 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.31).
Limitations. One randomised, double-blind trial; the abstract names the National Health Medical Research Council of Australia and others as funders. The higher rate of noncardiovascular death is reported as given and its interval includes 1. This record covers LoDoCo2 only. A separate trial of colchicine after a recent heart attack is registered as COLCOT (NCT02551094); this atlas records its registry entry and not its results. Abstract only.

Record details

Record id: cardio:colchicine
Content hash: c999d5d071e913fd0ef500f59d67550f3cf8bf494fb3ceaa324fbf7bd0419a5e