Alcohol Intake Increase Gout Risk Regardless of Sex-Specific Differences: JAMA

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association unveiled the complex relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing gout by highlighting significant differences between men and women. The study analyzed data from a total of 401,128 participants aged 37 to 73 years, who were initially free of gout. The study was set to explore the consumption of both total and specific alcoholic beverages and their association with incident gout across sexes.

The findings of this study found that men who currently consumed alcohol had a markedly higher risk of developing gout when compared to the individuals who never drank (Hazard Ratio [HR], 1.69; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.30-2.18). Also, this increased risk was not observed among women drinkers (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.67-1.03) which suggested a sex-specific difference in how alcohol affects the likelihood of developing gout.

Among current drinkers, the analysis revealed that higher total alcohol consumption was linked to an elevated risk of gout in both sexes, but with a stronger effect observed in men. Men with higher alcohol intake had more than double the risk of developing gout (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.84-2.30), whereas women also experienced an increased risk, though to a lesser degree (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.61).

A significant variation was observed in the types of alcoholic beverages consumed by men and women. Men, on average, consumed more beer or cider (mean, 4.2 pints per week) when compared to women (mean, 0.4 pints per week). The outcomes supported that the consumption of beer or cider was particularly associated with a higher risk of gout in both sexes. For every pint of beer or cider consumed per day, the risk of gout increased significantly, with men showing an HR of 1.60 (95% CI, 1.53-1.67) and women showing a similar trend (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.02-2.57).

The research also explored the impact of other alcoholic beverages, such as champagne, white wine, and spirits, all of which were linked to an elevated risk of gout in both men and women. Overall, this comprehensive study illuminates the importance of considering sex-specific differences when evaluating the risks associated with alcohol consumption. While both men and women who consume alcohol are at risk of developing gout, the type of alcohol and the quantity consumed play crucial roles in determining this risk.

Reference:

Lyu, J.-Q., Miao, M.-Y., Wang, J.-M., Qian, Y.-W., Han, W.-W., Peng, X.-Z., Tao, H.-W., Yang, J., Chen, J.-S., Qin, L.-Q., Chen, W., & Chen, G.-C. (2024). Consumption of Total and Specific Alcoholic Beverages and Long-Term Risk of Gout Among Men and Women. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 7, Issue 8, p. e2430700). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.30700