Women And Gout

Gout is usually viewed as a male disease, but growing evidence suggests the disease is also a concern for older women. A new study states that obesity, alcohol use and diuretic use expose women to more risk for gout.

The research team led by Hyon Choi, M.D., Ph.D., lifted and analyzed data from the Framingham Heart Study following 2,476 women, average age 47, without gout when the study began.

Women, keep your weight in check, reduce alcohol and diuretics use to decrease your risk for gout.

Data evaluated at the onset of the study included serum acid levels, age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consusmption, hypertension, medication use (including diuretics), blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and menopause status.

After 28 years, 104 gout cases were present among the 2,476 women who started the study. Results showed gradually increasing uric acid levels correlated with incidents of gout.

Gout risk with women who had serum uric acid levels ≥8 mg/dl was 46 times higher than women whose levels were <5 mg/dl.

Results also found the big four suspected risk factors for gout did associate with higher incidence of gout in women. Post-menopausal women had four times the risk, while older women using hormone replacement therapy had only a quarter times the risk.