Abstract
Background: Conflicting evidence exists on the link between gout and cancer risk, with limited clarity on the impact of healthy lifestyle factors.
Methods: In the UK Biobank, 7,169 gout patients were matched with 21,507 non-gout controls (1:3 ratio) using propensity scores. Cox regression models assessed cancer risk associated with gout. Among 6,105 gout patients, cancer risk was further evaluated using an eight-factor Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) and a weighted HLS.
Results: Gout was linked to a higher cancer incidence [HR (95% CI) = 1.075 (1.013-1.140)]. High HLS in gout patients correlated with a lower cancer risk [HR (95% CI) = 0.825 (0.717-0.948)], with the strongest protective effect observed in those aged ≥60. Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings.
Conclusion: Gout patients have a higher risk of developing cancer, but a healthy lifestyle, particularly in those aged 60 and older, significantly reduces this risk. These findings highlight the importance of lifestyle interventions for cancer prevention in patients with gout.