Gout does not seem to increase fracture risk

Gout is not associated with an increased risk of fracture, according to a large study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, findings that contrast with previous research suggesting that people with gout are more likely to experience fracture.

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is caused by the build-up of urate crystals in a joint. It can result in severe pain and swelling, usually in the base of the big toe but also in other joints. There is some evidence that chronic inflammation may increase the risk of fracture.

Experts looked at a database of 31,781 people with gout who were matched to 122,961 controls and followed until the first diagnosis of a fracture. They found that the rate of fracture was similar in people with and without gout. And medication to lower urate levels in people with gout did not appear to benefit or adversely affect the long-term risk of fractures.

Dr Zoe Paskins, who is involved in the work, comments:

“Our use of a nationally representative cohort should enable our study findings to be generalizable not only to the UK but also to other countries with similar health care systems.”

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