To evaluate the association of incident gout with the risk of incident septic arthritis in a general population context.
We investigated the association of incident gout with the risk of incident septic arthritis using the Health Improvement Network, a computerized medical record database from general practices in the UK. We conducted a cohort analysis of the risk of an incident septic arthritis diagnosis among adults with incident gout compared with up to five non-gout individuals matched by age, sex, date of study entry and enrolment year. We performed Cox proportional hazard regression models to adjust for lifestyle variables, physician visits, comorbidities and medication use.
We identified 72 073 incident gout patients and 358 342 matched non-gout patients. The incidence rates of a septic arthritis diagnosis were 0.24 cases and 0.09 cases per 1000 person-years in the gout and comparison cohorts, respectively. Matched univariate and multivariate hazard ratios of a septic arthritis diagnosis were 2.82 (95% CI 2.15, 3.71) and 2.60 (95% CI 1.93, 3.51), respectively. The association persisted among subgroups stratified by sex, age group (<75 and ≥75) and socio-economic deprivation level.
This general population-based study suggests that gout is associated with an increased likelihood of septic arthritis.