The Prevalence of Gout and Its Risk Factors in Healthy Workers

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and risk of gout in healthy workers. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 1,876 subjects (1,515 men and 361 women) enrolled in the Healthy Worker Cohort Study at Daegu, South Korea. Relationships between serum uric acid levels and independent risk factors were evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis after adjustment for covariates. Results: Among study participants, the prevalence of gout was 22.9% in men and 2.5% in women (based on a serum uric acid level >7.0 mg/dL for men and >6.0 mg/dL for women). Among men, increased ALT, GGT, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were associated with increased risk of gout (p<0.05) by multiple linear regression analysis; however, increased age and HDL-cholesterol/triglyceride ratio were associated with decreased risk of gout (p<0.05). In women, increased triglycerides were associated with increased risk of gout (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that increased triglycerides were significantly associated with the risk of gout in men and women. Moreover, a high HDL-cholesterol/triglyceride ratio in men may reduce the risk of gout.