Gout and Its Risk Factors: A Review Based on Mendelian Randomization Analysis

Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine Research DOI: 10.32629/jcmr.v6i1.3676

Kehao Yu, Wentao Song, Xinyu Tu, Ke Zhou

Panzhihua University Health Science Center, Panzhihua 617000, Sichuan, China

Abstract

Gout and its complications have caused an enormous health and economical burden worldwide. Understanding the underlying risk factors for gout and their causality as well as interactions can provide new insights into prevention and novel therapeutic strategies. Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis is a research method that uses genetic variants as instruments to estimate the causal effect of a risk factor on an outcome, thereby reducing confounding in observational studies, the usage of such method along with the observational studies can provide valuable information and instruction to further pathophysiology studies and clinical practice. This narrative article aims to summarize the underlying risk factors and totalizing published MR analysis on gout. The systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure in cardiovascular system, body mass index, visceral adipose tissue, high-density lipoprotein, fast insulin in metabolism, tea, coffee in lifestyle, Victivallaceae family and the Ruminococcus gnavus and other 12 taxa of intestinal microbiota has been all proven to be casually associated with the development of gout, and other diseases/trait in these systems were associated with either serum uric acid level or hyperuricemia. Gout/serum uric acid level/hyperuricemia are as well had an impact on considerably diseases. These studies provide useful data and thoughtful insights to better assisting further studies in pathophysiology and clinical practice. Though several approaches have been developed to detect pleiotropy, more new method should be invented and practiced on MR analysis.

Keywords

Causality; Gout; Mendelian Randomization; Review; Risk factor; Hyperuricemia

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