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A recent study published on August 28 in JAMA Network Open has revealed a significant association between higher alcohol consumption and an increased risk of developing gout, particularly among men. Conducted by Jie-Qiong Lyu and colleagues from Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University in China, the study analyzed data from the U.K. Biobank, which included 401,128 participants aged 37 to 73 years, who were free of gout at the study’s baseline between 2006 and 2010. The participants were followed through 2021 to assess the long-term impact of alcohol consumption on gout risk.
The research findings indicate that current drinkers are at a heightened risk for gout compared to those who have never consumed alcohol, with a notable disparity between sexes. Among men, the risk was significantly higher, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 2.18). In contrast, women who consumed alcohol did not exhibit a statistically significant increased risk for gout, with an HR of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.67 to 1.03).
Further analysis showed that higher total alcohol consumption was associated with an even greater risk of gout, particularly in men. For men, the HR was 2.05, while for women, the HR was 1.34, indicating that both sexes are affected, albeit to different extents.
The study also examined the impact of specific types of alcoholic beverages on gout risk. Both men and women who consumed champagne or white wine, beer or cider, and spirits were found to have an increased risk of developing gout. The strongest association was observed with beer or cider consumption, where the HR per one pint per day was 1.60 for men and 1.62 for women.
The researchers suggest that the sex-specific differences in the association between total alcohol consumption and gout risk may be attributed more to the types of alcohol consumed by men and women rather than inherent biological differences. This finding underscores the need for tailored public health recommendations regarding alcohol consumption to mitigate gout risk, particularly among populations at higher risk.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence linking lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption, to the risk of developing gout, a painful and potentially debilitating condition. As gout prevalence continues to rise globally, these findings could inform future guidelines on alcohol consumption and gout prevention.
For further details, refer to the study: Jie-Qiong Lyu et al, “Consumption of Total and Specific Alcoholic Beverages and Long-Term Risk of Gout Among Men and Women,” JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.30700.
