Relationship Between Comprehensive Inflammatory Indicators and Gout Risk: A Cross-sectional Study Based on NHANES...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Gout development is closely linked to inflammatory processes.
• Six systemic inflammation indices, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and inflammation score, are valuable for assessing inflammation severity.
• This study investigates the relationship between these indices and gout risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the association between six systemic inflammation indices and the risk of developing gout.
• To identify which inflammation index is most strongly associated with gout risk.
• To understand the nature of the association between inflammation scores and gout risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between inflammation indices and gout risk.
• Restricted cubic splines (RCS) used to assess nonlinear associations and stratified analyses for subgroup examination.

Main Results:

• The inflammation score showed the most significant association with gout risk among the six indices.
• A nonlinear relationship was observed between inflammation score and gout risk (P=0.0134), with increased risk noted below a turning point of 1.641.
• Age, race, and smoking status were found to interact with the inflammation score's association with gout risk.

Conclusions:

• The inflammation score is a robust and independent predictor of gout risk, particularly at low-to-moderate inflammation levels.
• Systemic inflammation, as indicated by the inflammation score, may play a crucial role in the early stages of gout development.
• The inflammation score holds potential for the early identification of individuals at high risk for gout.