Association between gout and subsequent breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study including 67,598 primary care patients in Germany

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze the cumulative incidence of breast cancer following gout and to investigate the association between gout and subsequent breast cancer in 67,598 primary care patients in Germany. Methods This study included adult female patients (≥ 18 years) with an initial diagnosis of gout in 1284 general practices in Germany between January 2005 and December 2020. Individuals without gout were matched to gout patients using propensity score matching based on average yearly consultation frequency during the follow-up period, diabetes, obesity, chronic bronchitis/COPD diagnoses, and diuretic therapy. The 10-year cumulative incidence of breast cancer in the cohorts with and without gout was also studied using Kaplan–Meier curves, which were then compared using the log-rank test. Finally, a univariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between gout and breast cancer. Results After up to 10 years of follow-up, 4.5% of gout and 3.7% of non-gout patients were diagnosed with breast cancer. A Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between gout and subsequent breast cancer in the total population (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.05–1.31). In the age-stratified analyses, gout was only strongly associated with subsequent breast cancer in the age group ≤ 50 (HR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.10–2.27), but the association was not significant in women over 50 years old. Conclusion Taken together, the findings of our study provide evidence for the association between gout and subsequent breast cancer diagnosis, particularly in the youngest age group.

Changes in the incidence of early-onset breast cancer in Germany between 2010 and 2022

“…It has previously been shown that the panel of practices included in the Disease Analyzer database is representative of private practices in Germany [ 17 ]. Finally, this database has already been used in previous studies focusing on breast cancer [ 18 – 20 ].…”

Anti-Xanthine Oxidase 5′-Hydroxyhericenes A–D from the Edible Mushroom Hericium erinaceus and Structure Revision of 3-[2,3-Dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-1-yl]-pyridine-4,5-diol

“…This enzyme converts hypoxanthine to uric acid and generates reactive oxygen species. A high level of uric acid in the blood leads to the development of gout, which increases the risk of breast cancer. , Although several anticancer drugs are available, the number of cancer patients still increases, partly due to the ability of cancer to develop resistance through various mechanisms, such as drug inactivation, drug efflux, and inhibition of cell death . In addition, anticancer drugs are expensive, limiting their accessibility to patients and their potential for adverse side effects.…”