Potential Association of Osteoporosis and Not Osteoporotic Fractures in Patients with Gout: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Health issues associated with gout and increased occurrence of osteoporosis or fractures have been raised; however, the results are elusive. Herein, we explored the possible link between gout and incident osteoporosis/osteoporotic fractures based on long-term follow-up nationwide data. This study enrolled 16,305 patients with gout and 65,220 controls who were matched by propensity score at a 1:4 ratio on the basis of sex, age, income, and residence from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort database (2002–2015). A Cox proportional hazard model was employed to identify the relevance between gout and incident osteoporosis/fractures, following adjustment for various covariates. In the follow-up period, osteoporosis developed in 761 individuals with gout and 2805 controls (incidence rates: 8.0 and 7.3/1000 person-years, respectively), and each osteoporotic fracture in the distal radius (2.8 vs. 2.7/1000 person-years), hip (1.3 vs. 1.3/1000 person-years), and spine (4.5 vs. 4.5/1000 person-years) occurred in gout and control groups, respectively. After adjustment, the gout group presented an 11% higher development of osteoporosis (95% confidence interval = 1.02–1.20) than the controls (p = 0.011). Subgroup analyses maintained the augment of incident osteoporosis in sufferers with gout, particularly in either men or <60 years. However, no such relevance was identified between gout and incident osteoporotic fractures at any site. In conclusion, gout may result in a slightly elevated likelihood of developing osteoporosis, and not osteoporotic fractures, in the Korean population.

Exploring the Link between Chronic Kidney Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study Using the Korean National Health Screening Cohort

“…The researchers categorized the participants’ residential areas as either urban or rural using the same methodology as in a previous study [ 46 , 47 ]. The study used the same categorization method as a previous study for three variables: tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity, which was based on the participant’s body mass index in kg/m 2 [ 48 ]. The study utilized data on several health measures, including systolic and diastolic blood pressures (mmHg), fasting blood glucose levels (mg/dL), and total cholesterol levels (mg/dL) [ 45 ].…”

An elevated likelihood of stroke, ischemic heart disease, or heart failure in individuals with gout: a longitudinal follow-up study utilizing the National Health Information database in Korea

“…The study specified gout as a condition that had been either diagnosed or managed at least twice using ICD-10 codes (M10), as described previously ( 31 , 32 ).…”

Gout and Migraines: Exploring the Complex Link in a 16-Year Longitudinal Study of the Korean Population

“…Gout (independent variable) was defined as a condition that had been recorded or treated on at least two occasions based on the ICD-10 code (M10), as previously elucidated [ 5 , 11 ].…”

“…We grouped participants into 10 categories (based on age) at 5-year intervals (40–44 to ≥85 years) and classified income into five tiers (class 1–5). Residential areas were divided into two categories: rural, which encompassed various regions based on 16 administrative regions, and urban, which included the seven largest cities in Korea, each with a regional population of >1 million [ 11 ]. Participants were categorized into three groups of smoking status, including current smokers, former smokers, and non-smokers.…”

“…This increase has translated into a 10.8% annual average rise in healthcare expenses associated with gout [ 6 ]. Gout, characterized by elevated uric acid levels, often coexists with a range of comorbidities [ 3 ], including hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Consequently, gout and the comorbid conditions associated with it are increasingly recognized as significant public health concerns in South Korea.…”