A recent study, published in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, delved into the nuanced relationship between gout outcomes, lifestyle changes, and lipid levels. The research aimed to analyze the impact of anthropometric measures and lipid levels on gout outcomes in patients receiving treatment. Among the key determinants of gout outcomes, waist circumference and lipid levels emerged as crucial predictors.
Led by Dr. Till Uhlig and colleagues, the study included 211 patients with gout, predominantly male with an average age of 56.4 years. Over the 2-year duration, anthropometric measures remained relatively stable, whereas cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) showed a noticeable decrease by the end of the first year. Notably, high waist circumference (WC) and lipid levels emerged as strong predictors of unfavorable gout outcomes at the end of the 2-year period.
Patients with a recent gout flare and elevated serum urate levels received comprehensive gout education and were initiated on a 'treat-to-target' urate-lowering therapy over a year. Anthropometric measures including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-height ratio (WHR) were recorded yearly alongside lipid level assessments for the 2-year duration.

Proportion of Patients: Anthropometric measures remained largely unchanged over the 2-year study duration.
Cholesterol Levels: Demonstrated a reduction at the end of the first year.
Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C): Showed a noticeable decrease by the end of the first year.
Association with Gout Outcomes: High waist circumference (WC) and elevated lipid levels were predictors of unfavorable gout outcomes after the 2-year study period.
Odds Ratio for Achieving sUA Target at Year 2:
WC: 0.96 per cm (95% CI: 0.93 to 0.99)
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol: 5.1 per mmol/L (95% CI: 1.2 to 22.1)
Odds Ratio for Gout Flare during Year 2:
High LDL-C: 1.8 per mmol/L (95% CI: 1.2 to 2.6)

The study’s findings underscore the significance of monitoring anthropometric measures and lipid levels in patients receiving continuous treatment for gout. Predictive relationships between high waist circumference, lipid levels, and unfavorable gout outcomes highlight the importance of managing these factors to optimize gout management strategies.
Reference:
Uhlig T, Karoliussen LF, Sexton J, Kvien TK, Haavardsholm EA, Hammer HB. Lifestyle factors predict gout outcomes: Results from the NOR-Gout longitudinal 2-year treat-to-target study. RMD Open. 2023;9(4):e003600. Published 2023 Dec 1. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003600