Background

The prevalence of gout has increased in recent years [1]. Twenty-six percent of adult males (≥19 years) and 22% of older males (≥45 years) either had hyperuricemia or were taking medication for it in Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT, 1993–1996) [2]. The data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database showed that the prevalence of gout was 4.26% and male to female ratio was 3.2:1 [3]. Subjects with high serum uric acid levels are at higher risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality [4]. Gout increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, even in young people and those without cardiovascular risk factors [5]. Gout also increases mortality risk in both genders, especially in kidney diseases, endocrine and metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases [6].

Overweight and obesity are epidemic and obese people often have hyperuricemia. Increased serum uric acid [7] and gout occurrence [8] have been known to be closely associated with an increase in visceral fat accumulation. The significance of visceral fat obesity has been found to be associated with chronic metabolic disorders [9]. Insulin resistance plays a key role in the connection between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome [10, 11]. It is known that body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, hypertension, inflammation and insulin resistance increase the uric acid concentration [12–14]. High plasma urate concentration is associated with articular deposits of urate crystals that cause gout [15]. The predisposing factors such as alcohol consumption, diuretics use, and excess weight gain increase risks of gout attack among patients with hyperuricemia [16]. Gout has also been linked with metabolic syndrome and diabetes [17]. Obesity is positively associated with gout, whereas body weight loss is protective [18].

Thus, on the basis of these evidences, it is important to find an easy, practical screening index for predicting gout in the general male Taiwanese population. However, the evidence about the correlation of BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), or waist to height ratio (WHtR) with gout in the Taiwanese population is scant. We tried to assume that other anthropometric index rather than BMI could more accurately predict gout. Therefore, the aim of this study was to ascertain which anthropometric index can be better at predicting gout in the Taiwanese men.

Methods

Study participants

The data were obtained from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan that was performed between 1993 and 1996 (NAHSIT, 1993–1996). NAHSIT was a nationwide survey for the nutrition and health status of Taiwanese. All instruments of the NAHSIT 1993–1996 were evaluated for validity and reliability in 3 pilot studies conducted from January to June in 1993 [19]. All subjects were gave written informed consent for participation before enrollment in the study. The database consists of de-identified secondary data and is released for purposes of public researches.

The details of the design and the operational techniques about the survey have been described previously [20]. Briefly, data were drawn from 7 geographical district samples according to their unique dietary patterns of the residents, ancestral origins, geographic location, and degree of urbanization (Hakka people areas, mountainous areas, the East coast area, the Peng-Hu islands, metropolitan cities, urbanization Class I townships, and urbanization Class II townships).

Data collection

After the strata were classified, 3 townships or city districts were selected within each stratum by selection probability proportional to its population size (PPS). Three communities were selected in each township or city district by PPS method. People in each communities were further divided into 7 age groups (4–6, 7–12, 13–15, 16–18, 19–44, 45–64, and ≧ 65 years) and 2 sex groups. Eight or 16 individuals (depending on the available age groups) were sampled in each age group by sex group. A pseudo-Latin square design was used to allocate survey time to balance the effects of season and year in this subtropical land. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and physical examinations were recorded and documented during face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires. Finally, there were 6464 subjects completed the physical examination and 5843 adequate fasting blood samples. The present study enrolled 1443 Taiwanese males aged ≧20 years with complete questionnaires (sex, age, area, alcohol consumption, and medical history), physical examinations and results of fasting blood samples.

Definitions

Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid ≧ 7.0 mg/dl for males [21]. Taiwan definitions adopted BMI 24 kg/m2 as the cutpoint for overweight and 27 kg/m2 for obesity [22]. The definitions of metabolic syndrome in males are WC ≥90 cm and any two of the following: (1) high triglyceride ≥150 mg/dL, (2) low HDL-cholesterol <40 mg, (3) high blood pressure ≥130/85 mg or on medication, (4) raised fasting plasma glucose ≧100 mg/dl or diabetes [23]. We defined gout as reporting gout diagnosed by a physician from questionnaires.

The self-reported alcohol consumption was categorized into low, moderate and high. Anthropometric variables included height, weight, WC and hip circumference. Hip circumference was measured at the level of the greater trochanter. WC was measured at the mid-level between the iliac crest and the last rib. BMI was calculated as weight (kilogram) divided by height (meter) squared, WHR was calculated as WC (centimeter) divided by HC (centimeter), and WHtR was calculated as WC (centimeter) divided by height (centimeter).

Statistical analyses

All analyses were carried out by using the SAS ver. 9.1 software package (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Comparisons between gout and non-gout subjects’ demographic data, laboratory measurements, and anthropometric indices were made using Student’s t test and Chi-square tests. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for gout were calculated from the multiple logistic regression analysis according to obesity (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 and top tertile of WC, WHR, and WHtR) and the tertiles of the indices. In the current study, the ROC curve analyses were performed by calculating the true positive rate (sensitivity) against the false-positive rate (1 − specificity) to assess and measure the predictive power of each anthropometric index in the association with gout based on the area under the curve (AUC). A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The basic characteristics of the 104 gout and 1339 non-gout male participants aged ≧ 20 years are shown in Table 1. The age of gout group was older than non-gout Taiwanese. The highest prevalence of gout was found in the mountainous areas. The prevalence of high anthropometric indices, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and hyperuricemia were significantly higher in gout group than that in non-gout group. There were no significant differences in smoking, alcohol drinking and renal disease between the two groups.

Table 1 Demographic, clinical, laboratory and anthropometric characteristics of subjects with and without gout
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In Table 2, BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and the top tertile of WC, WHR and WHtR were considered to be obese. It shows the ORs for gout by BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 and top tertile of WC, WHR, and WHtR after adjusting for age, smoking, areas and hypertension medications. Hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome were significantly associated with gout in all models. The adjusted OR for gout was significantly increased in the top tertile of WC (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.04-2.79), WHR (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07-2.92), and WHtR (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.35-3.86). A non-significant result was found for BMI (≧27 kg/m2) (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.98-2.57) in Model 4.

Table 2 The ORs for gout in relation to obesity definitions after adjustment for potential confounders
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Four multivariable models of gout consisting of variables for renal disease, alcohol drinking, metabolic syndrome, hyperuricemia and anthropometric indices after adjustment for age, smoking, areas and hypertension medication are shown in Table 3. The OR for gout was significantly increased in the mid and top tertiles of WC in Model 1 (p trend = 0.03). We simultaneously adjusted WC into the Model 2, 3, and 4. After the adjustments, the ORs for gout increased significantly for WHtR, but not for BMI and WHR. The adjusted odds ratios for the mid and top tertiles of WHtR were 2.55 (95% CI: 1.16, 5.59) and 3.01 (95% CI: 1.13, 7.99) in Model 3, respectively. The obesity index, WHtR, seemed to have more stable effects on gout than did WC.

Table 3 The ORs for gout in relation to tertiles of each anthropometric index after adjustment for potential confounders
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Table 4 shows the AUC values of WHtR, BMI, WHR, and WC by using ROC analysis to detect the predictive power of all anthropometric indices for gout. Of the 4 anthropometric indices, WHtR was found to have the largest areas under the ROC curve (0.684). The best combination of sensitivity and specificity for gout was 0.67 and 0.67, respectively. The optimal cut-off values for gout showed WHtR of 0.57.

Table 4 Estimated area under curve (AUC) of the indices in predicting gout in men
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Discussion

The proxy measures of visceral fat obesity, principally, WC, WHR or WHtR are used as a surrogate of body fat centralization and have been use for cardiovascular risk evaluation because of their association with cardiometabolic parameters and outcome [9, 24, 25]. In 2001 Chang et al. [2] reported a nationwide survey from Taiwan that showed strong associations of serum uric acid concentrations with mountainous area, age and BMI in men. A cross-sectional study of 2023 military personnel in Taiwan showed positive associations of serum uric acid with BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and dyslipidemia [26]. Villegas et al. investigated hyperuricemia in a population consisting middle-aged, urban Chinese men and identified graded positive associations of BMI, WHR, WC, and weight gain [27]. A nationwide study in Taiwan demonstrated that WC has the strongest correlation with hyperuricemia for both men and women than BMI and WHR [28].

In a community based epidemiological study in Taiwan, the risk factors for gout among either the general population or subjects with hyperuricemia were serum uric acid level, alcohol drinking and central obesity [21]. Hypertriglyceridemia in men may potentiate the effect of serum uric acid to increase the risk of gout development [29]. In a large prospective cohort of men, higher BMI and weight gain are strong risk factors for gout in men, while weight reduction is protective [18].

WHtR is a more practical anthropometric index to find higher metabolic risks in normal and overweight Japanese men and women than WC and BMI [30]. A hospital based case–control study of 92 gout and 92 non-gout men showed that WHtR had a significant linear effect on gout risk, independent of BMI [31]. In our study, altered WC increased the chances of gout, but this fact occurred only in the first adjustment of the model in Table 3. When the BMI, WHR and WHtR separately were added, the effect of WC was lost. After adjustment by WC, the OR of WHtR remained significant. From our multivariable models, it suggested that the index of central obesity, especially WHtR, was better index for identifying the risk for gout in this population than were WC and WHR.

One of the strengths of our study was the use of a computerized database, which was population-based and highly representative. A number of important limitations warrant discussion. First, NAHSIT was a cross-sectional study and susceptible to unmeasured confounders and reverse causation. Second, as a result of modernization and life style changes globally, the anthropometric variables of the studied population may have changed. The results from data collected between 1993 and 1996 could be established as a reference or model to which future studies could compare. Third, the diagnosis of gout is based on self reported diagnosis by a physician that might be biased. Although gold standard diagnosis of gout is based upon aspiration of joint fluid for the identification of urate crystals [32], it is impractical for epidemiologic research. Gout is often defined by self-report in epidemiologic studies. Previous population-based cohort study suggested that the self-report of physician diagnosed gout has good reliability and sensitivity and is appropriate for epidemiologic studies [33].

Conclusion

We had confirmed the hypothesis that WHtR rather than BMI could more accurately predict gout. Among the 4 anthropometric indices used in the present study, although higher values of WC, WHR, and WHtR were associated with gout, WHtR appears to be an independent and better anthropometric index for identifying individuals with gout.