Gout Linked to Higher Risk for Incident Parkinson Disease in Older Adults Rheumatology

Advisor Contributing Writer     October 22, 2018

The risk of incident Parkinson disease in gout may be highest in the 65-75 age group. Image Credit: Medical Images RM/STEVE OH, MS CMI

CHICAGO —There may be a link between gout and incident Parkinson disease, especially in older adults, according to a recent study presented at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, held October 19-24, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois.

Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham culled relevant participants from the 5% Medicare claims data between 2006 and 2012 to examine the relationship between gout and incident Parkinson disease. The cohort study included 1.72 million people with a mean age of 75 years and a mean Charlson-Romano comorbidity index score of 1.60 (SD, 2.39). The participants were 58% female and 86% white.

Of the participants, 22,636 people developed incident Parkinson disease during follow-up. Gout was linked to an increased risk of Parkinson disease in the main analysis at a hazard ratio of 1.14 (95% CI, 1.07-1.21). 

Sensitivity analyses supported these findings. Gender and race differences did not appear to be factors. However, risk varied to some extent by age. Participants between 65 and 75, between 75 and 85, and over 85 had respective hazard ratios of incident Parkinson disease with gout of 1.27 (95% CI, 1.16-1.39), 1.07 (95% CI, 0.97-1.16), and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.79- 1.20).

In closing, the researchers expressed that the strongest link between gout and Parkinson disease was discovered in individuals between the ages of 65 and 75 years compared with other age groups. 

They suggested that "mechanisms of this increased risk need to be evaluated in future studies."

J. A. Singh declares affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry. Please refer to reference for a complete list of his disclosures.

Reference

Singh JA, Cleveland J. Gout and the risk of Parkinson's disease in older adults: a study of U.S. Medicare data. Presented at: 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting; October 19-24, 2018; Chicago, IL. Abstract 1298.

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