Gout and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objectives: To investigate the association between gout and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods: The study subjects were participants in a health-screening programme at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 2000 to 2006. Subjects were classified into eight groups based on serum urate (SU) level and gout status (≤ 4.9, 5.0–6.9, 7.0–8.9, and ≥ 9.0 mg/dL, without and with gout). The association between gout and NAFLD was assessed by multiple logistic regression.Results: Among a total of 54 325 subjects, 1930 (3.6%) had gout and 6169 (11.3%) had NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in subjects with gout (23.1%, n = 445) than in those without gout (10.9%, n = 5724, p < 0.001). Among subjects with NAFLD, the severity of NAFLD was higher in gout patients. Gout was associated with an increased risk for NAFLD [odds ratio (OR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–1.60, p < 0.001], after adjustment for age, sex, presence of metabolic syndrome, and low estimated glomerular filtration r...