Hyperuricemia, gout and the associated comorbidities in China: findings from a prospective study of 0.5 million adults

Abstract

Background

Despite the growing prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout, their epidemiology and associated comorbidity burden remains poorly studied in many populations, including China. We aimed to examine the patterns of plasma urate level, prevalence of hyperuricemia, and incidence of gout, and investigate the associations of gout with a range of comorbidities and all-cause mortality in Chinese adults.

Methods

The prospective China Kadoorie Biobank recruited 512,724 adults aged 30–79 years from ten diverse areas in 2004–2008 and measured plasma urate level among 16,817 participants. The incidence of gout and other diseases and deaths were monitored by electronic linkages with registries and hospital records. Cox and logistic regression yielded adjusted HRs and ORs for risks of mortality and comorbidities associated with gout, hyperuricemia, and urate level.

Findings

The gout incidence rate was 23.4 per 100,000 person-years, and was higher in men and older participants, and varied substantially by region. Gout was associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.37–1.82), CVD (1.87, 1.64–2.14), CKD (5.61, 4.45–7.07), urolithiasis (2.50, 1.85–3.38), diabetes (1.99, 1.51–2.62), diseases of the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum (2.14, 1.72–2.66), infectious and parasitic diseases (1.91, 1.47–2.48), arthropathies (6.06, 4.98–7.38), and other musculoskeletal disorders (2.10, 1.77–2.51). Most of these associations were bi-directional, sustained over time and little affected by adjustment for cardiometabolic risk factors. Moreover, participants who developed gout were more likely to have multiple major diseases and more hospitalisations. Among the subset with plasma urate measured, 15% had hyperuricemia, which was more common in men, older women, and urban residents, and was associated with increased risks of gout, all-cause mortality, and several cardiometabolic, renal, digestive, and musculoskeletal diseases.

Interpretation

In Chinese adults, gout was associated with several comorbidities and a poor health trajectory. Our findings reinforce the need for prevention and management of gout and associated comorbidities.

Funding

Kadoorie Charitable Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Trust, UK Medical Research Council, Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford.