Factors associated with gout in South Koreans: analysis using the National Health Insurance Corporation and the National Health Screening Exam databases

The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with gout among South Koreans. A case control study of gout patients newly diagnosed between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008, and matching controls was conducted using the nationwide database (National Health Insurance Corporation and National Health Screening Exam (NHSE) database), which included the health-care records of 48.1 million individuals. Of 495,998 newly diagnosed patients, we included 18,123 who were ≥40 years old and had an NHSE before diagnosis of gout. To elucidate the factors associated with gout, multivariate conditional logistic analyses were performed. Gout was associated with drinking ≥1/week (p < 0.001), drinking ≥1 bottle of soju/session (p < 0.001), high body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001), high blood pressure (p < 0.001), high total cholesterol (p < 0.001), proteinuria (multivariate odds ratio (OR) = 1.75; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.53–2.00), and an elevated uric acid (multivariate OR = 1.54; 95 % CI = 1.22–1.94). Exercise frequency was not significantly associated with gout. Prediabetic blood sugar level (100–125 mg/dL) was associated with gout in the univariate analysis, but not in the multivariate analysis. Diabetic blood sugar level (≥126 mg/dL) was associated with a decreased odds of gout (multivariate OR = 0.79; 95 % CI = 0.73–0.86). Our nationwide South Korean study showed that frequent and excessive alcohol consumption, high BMI, high blood pressure, high total cholesterol, proteinuria, and high uric acid are associated with gout.