Prevalence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in patients with gouty arthritis

The study was performed to confirm the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in gouty patients and to define the relationship between insulin resistance and gouty arthritis. We recruited 83 patients with gouty arthritis and checked clinical factors according to the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome from the ATP III guidelines and WHO Asia-Pacific obesity criteria recommendations. We also assessed the clinical characteristics of subjects and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and compared with previous study groups as controls. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with gout was 30.1% according to ATP III criteria and 50.6% with WHO Asia-Pacific adjustment and is significantly higher than the previous control study groups (ATP III: 5.2, 10.6%, WHO Asia-Pacific adjustment: 9.8, 13.9%). The mean value of HOMA-IR in patients with gout was 2.63 ± 1.36 and is significantly higher than control study (1.91 ± 1.01, P < 0.05). There were significant correlations between 24-h urinary uric acid excretion and waist circumference (r ² = 0.225, P = 0.049), fasting insulin (r ² = 0.241, P = 0.035), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r ² = 0.271, P = 0.017). There were significant correlations between insulin resistance and waist circumference (r ² = 0.341, P < 0.01), BMI (r ² = 0.390, P < 0.01). The value of HOMA-IR (insulin resistance) and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with gout are significantly higher than normal healthy control groups. The hyperuricemia in gout might be caused by the increased adiposity associated with insulin resistance.