Ethnic and Behavioral Drivers of Gout Risk Save

Gout is common but disproportionately affects certain groups (e.g., the elderly, Pacific Islander, Blacks). Ethnic links to gout were also recently shown to be linked to modifiable behavioral factors that may prove useful in managing gout patients.

Behavioral factors were studied using the Multiethnic Cohort Study linked to Medicare gout claims between 1999–2016. Populations included:

Black (n = 12,370), Native Hawaiian (n = 6459), Japanese (n = 29,830), Latino (n = 17,538), and White (n = 26,067) participants.

The relative risk of gout was compared to white persons.

• Native Hawaiians had the highest risk of gout (HR 2.21, 2.06–2.38), followed by Black and Japanese participants
• Latinos had a lower risk of gout (HR 0.78, 0.73–0.83)
• Alcohol use was associated with an increased gout risk, especially in Japanese drinking ≥ 3 drinks/d(HR 1.46, 1.27–1.66), or > 5 beers/wk (HR 1.29, 1.17–1.43; P < 0.001)
• Former smokers (≥ 20 pack-years) had an increased risk of gout (HR 1.14; 1.06–1.22).
• Higher dietary quality was associated with a decreased gout risk, best among White participants (HRQ5vsQ1 0.84, 95% CI 0.79–0.90)
• Vitamin C was weakly associated with a decreased risk of gout, only in Japanese individuals (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.98)

While ethnic differences contributes to gout risk, modifiable behavioral factors (especially in certain ethnic groups) may also factor into preventing and managing gout.