Bariatric Surgery May Prevent Gout in Obese Patients

Bariatric surgery can reduce the risk of gout and hyperuricemia in obese patients, according to a new study from Sweden.

Previous research has suggested that bariatric surgery may reduce the risk for gout, decrease gout events, and lower serum uric acid levels.
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To further evaluate the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on obese patients, the researchers assessed 1982 patients who underwent bariatric surgery and 1999 obese controls receiving traditional treatment who were participating in the Swedish Obese Subjects study.

None of the patients had gout when they were recruited from 1987 to 2001.

The researchers gauged gout diagnosis and use of medications via national registers and questionnaires. Hyperuricaemia was diagnosed based on serum uric acid levels higher than 6.8 mg/dL.

Overall, the patients who underwent bariatric surgery had a reduced risk of gout compared with those undergoing traditional treatment.

At the 15-year follow-up, a difference of 3 percentage points in absolute risk was noted between the surgery and control groups, and the number needed to treat was 32.

The patients who underwent bariatric surgery also had a lower risk of hyperuricaemia than the control group. The difference in absolute risk was 12 percentage points, and the number needed to treat was 8.

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Maglio C, Peltonen M, Neovius M, et al. Effects of bariatric surgery on gout incidence in the Swedish Obese Subjects study: a non-randomised, prospective, controlled intervention trial [published online October 8, 2016]. Ann Rheum Dis. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209958.