Lipid Accumulation Product Superior Predictor of Gout and Hyperuricemia Risk, reports research
Researchers have revealed in a new study that the Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP)-a combination of waist circumference and fasting triglyceride levels-is a better indicator of obesity-related health risks than BMI or waist circumference alone. LAP shows high potential in predicting the risk of gout and hyperuricemia, presenting a modifiable factor for prevention. This study was conducted by Dexian X. and fellow researchers and was published in PLOS One journal.
The study employed data from 10,871 adults who underwent the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009 to 2018. Subjects reported by themselves their gout status, and hyperuricemia was ascertained using laboratory uric acid results. Each subject had the lipid accumulation product calculated using waist circumference and fasting levels of triglycerides to estimate visceral fat accumulation.
Multivariate logistic regression analysis estimated odds ratios (OR) for gout and hyperuricemia by LAP quartiles. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling also examined dose-response and possible non-linear effects between LAP and these outcomes. Trends across LAP quartiles were estimated using P-trend tests.
Results
• Prevalence of hyperuricemia was 20.9% among the 10,871 adults in the study, and gout occurred in 5.57% of participants.
• After controlling for possible confounders, patients in the top LAP quartile had 271% increased risk of hyperuricemia as compared to the bottom quartile (OR = 3.711, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.732–5.042, p < 0.001).
• While LAP was treated as a continuous variable, a linear association with risk of hyperuricemia was noted (OR = 2.441, 95% CI 1.348–4.42, p = 0.005).
• Both analyses indicated strong trends (p for trend < 0.001).
These findings support the position of visceral fat deposition, as reflected by LAP, as a central metabolic risk factor for gout and hyperuricemia. The high degree of correlation indicates that LAP may serve as an accessible clinical marker for the identification of high-risk individuals for developing these disorders. Since LAP is simple to compute from standard measurements, it provides an effective tool for risk screening in heterogeneous groups.
This research proved that the lipid accumulation product is a useful predictor of risk of gout and hyperuricemia. Management of the extent of visceral fat accumulation could provide a promising entry point for prevention and control of these conditions. These results indicate that LAP should be a significant marker in metabolic health evaluations targeted at lowering gout and hyperuricemia prevalence.
Reference:
Xian, D., Wang, W., Li, H., Song, G., Xu, D., Zhang, F., Wang, Z., Xu, W., Meng, H., & Peng, M. (2025). Lipid accumulation product: A novel marker for gout and hyperuricemia. PloS One, 20(5), e0324139. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324139
