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Healthy lifestyle counteracts the risk effect of genetic factors on incident gout
Healthy lifestyle counteracts the risk effect of genetic factors on incident gout
Risk genes linked to the development of gout have been identified, and lifestyle factors are related to gout risk. It remains unclear whether healthy lifestyle factors can mitigate the genetic risk of gout. Researchers explored whether and to what extent a healthy lifestyle can mitigate the risk of gout related to genetic factors.
Within the UK Biobank, 416,481 gout-free participants (aged 37-74) were identified at baseline. Polygenic risk for gout was assessed and categorised as low (lowest tertile), middle (tertile 2), and high (highest tertile). Healthy lifestyle factors included no/moderate alcohol consumption, no smoking, physical activity, and a healthy diet. Participants were categorised into three groups according to their number of healthy lifestyle factors: unfavourable (0 or 1), intermediate (any 2), and favourable (3 or 4). Data were analysed using Cox proportional hazard models.
Over the follow-up (median: 12.1 years), 6,206 participants developed gout. Compared to low genetic risk, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of gout was 1.44 (1.35-1.54) for middle and 1.77 (1.66-1.89) for high genetic risk. The HRs (95% CIs) of gout were 0.63 (0.59-0.67) for a favourable lifestyle and 0.79 (0.75-0.85) for an intermediate lifestyle, compared to an unfavourable lifestyle. In joint effect analysis, compared to participants with low genetic predisposition and a favourable lifestyle, the HRs (95% CIs) of gout were 2.39 /3.12 in those with middle and high genetic predisposition plus unfavourable lifestyle profiles, and 1.53 /1.98 for those with middle and high genetic predisposition plus favourable lifestyle profiles, respectively. Moreover, compared to an unfavourable lifestyle, the HRs of gout related to a favourable lifestyle was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.56-0.73) for low genetic risk, 0.65 (95% CI, 0.58-0.72) for middle genetic risk, and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.57-0.69) for high genetic risk. There was a significant additive interaction between unfavourable lifestyle and high genetic risk on gout.
Healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower risk of gout and may attenuate the risk of gout related to genetic factors by almost a third, the researchers conclude.
Source: Zhang, Y., Yang, R., Dove, A. et al. Healthy lifestyle counteracts the risk effect of genetic factors on incident gout: a large population-based longitudinal study. BMC Med 20, 138 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02341-0
Risk genes linked to the development of gout have been identified, and lifestyle factors are related to gout risk. It remains unclear whether healthy lifestyle factors can mitigate the genetic risk of gout. Researchers explored whether and to what extent a healthy lifestyle can mitigate the risk of gout related to genetic factors.
Within the UK Biobank, 416,481 gout-free participants (aged 37-74) were identified at baseline. Polygenic risk for gout was assessed and categorised as low (lowest tertile), middle (tertile 2), and high (highest tertile). Healthy lifestyle factors included no/moderate alcohol consumption, no smoking, physical activity, and a healthy diet. Participants were categorised into three groups according to their number of healthy lifestyle factors: unfavourable (0 or 1), intermediate (any 2), and favourable (3 or 4). Data were analysed using Cox proportional hazard models.
Over the follow-up (median: 12.1 years), 6,206 participants developed gout. Compared to low genetic risk, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of gout was 1.44 (1.35-1.54) for middle and 1.77 (1.66-1.89) for high genetic risk. The HRs (95% CIs) of gout were 0.63 (0.59-0.67) for a favourable lifestyle and 0.79 (0.75-0.85) for an intermediate lifestyle, compared to an unfavourable lifestyle. In joint effect analysis, compared to participants with low genetic predisposition and a favourable lifestyle, the HRs (95% CIs) of gout were 2.39 /3.12 in those with middle and high genetic predisposition plus unfavourable lifestyle profiles, and 1.53 /1.98 for those with middle and high genetic predisposition plus favourable lifestyle profiles, respectively. Moreover, compared to an unfavourable lifestyle, the HRs of gout related to a favourable lifestyle was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.56-0.73) for low genetic risk, 0.65 (95% CI, 0.58-0.72) for middle genetic risk, and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.57-0.69) for high genetic risk. There was a significant additive interaction between unfavourable lifestyle and high genetic risk on gout.
Healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower risk of gout and may attenuate the risk of gout related to genetic factors by almost a third, the researchers conclude.
Source: Zhang, Y., Yang, R., Dove, A. et al. Healthy lifestyle counteracts the risk effect of genetic factors on incident gout: a large population-based longitudinal study. BMC Med 20, 138 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02341-0
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