Exercise, Vegetable Consumption Linked to Better Quality of Life in Patients with Gout

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Gout-specific health-related quality of life is impacted by lifestyle choices including vegetable consumption and regular exercise, according to findings from a recent study.

Results showed a negative linear correlation between dietary habits and exercise with the gout concern during attack subscale of the Gout Impact Scale (GIS), further revealing vegetable consumption was associated with well-being during attack and exercise was associated with overall gout concern.¹

“There have been recommendations for lifestyle changes as well as medication to control gout. So far, there has been no research revealing the correlation lifestyle habits and GIS,” wrote Hyunsue Do, of Kangwon National University Hospital in South Korea, and colleagues.¹

A form of inflammatory arthritis resulting in pain and swelling in the joints, gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid and is attributed to a number of risk factors, including being overweight, having diabetes, drinking alcohol, and eating meat or foods high in sugar. Lifestyle changes are widely recommended for suppressing inflammation and controlling pain associated with gout, although the impact of these changes on GIS scores and subscales merits further research to determine which modifications should be pursued.²

To examine the association between GIS score and lifestyle habits in patients with gout, investigators collected demographic and clinical data, lifestyle habit information, medications, quality of life scores, GIS scores, laboratory results, and radiological findings for patients with gout aged ≥ 18 years who fulfilled the 2015 classification criteria for gout with necessity of ULT. In total, 232 patients were enrolled in the study. Among the cohort, the mean age was 55.08 years and 90.50% of participants were male.¹

Investigators noted the mean scores for each GIS subscale were as follows: 80.27 (Standard deviation [SD], 18.63) for gout concern overall, 64.39 (SD, 21.47) for gout medication side effects, 47.20 (SD, 13.28) for unmet gout treatment needs, 55.27 (SD, 26.56) for well-being during attack, and 61.63 (SD, 22.28) for gout concern during attack.¹

Upon analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in the gout concern overall subscale based on meat consumption (P = .04), soft drink consumption (P = .04), and exercise (P = .04). Of note, there was no significant difference observed based on consumption of dairy, fruit, vegetables, alcohol, and coffee.¹

Investigators pointed out vegetable consumption and exercise showed a significant impact on the well-being during gout attack subscale of the GIS (P = .02 and P = .03, respectively), while soft drink, meat, milk, dairy, fruit, alcohol, and coffee consumption did not show a significant difference between groups. Of note, vegetable consumption and exercise also had an impact on the gout concern during attack subscale (both P < .01).¹

Further stepwise multiple linear regression analysis of the overall gout concern subscale revealed a negative linear correlation with regular exercise (B = -5.71; P = .04). Regarding well-being during attack, vegetable consumption showed a negative linear correlation (B = -8.90; P = .01). Both vegetable consumption and regular exercise showed a negative linear correlation with gout concern during attack (B = -9.70 and B = -9.69, respectively; both P > .001).¹

“GIS score is related to specific lifestyle habits, including vegetable consumption and regular exercise. Based on these results, gout patients can be encouraged to have specific lifestyle habits,” investigators concluded.¹

References:

1. DO H, Moon K. Vegetable Consumption and Regular Exercise Are Associated with Better Quality of Life in Gout. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023; 75 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/vegetable-consumption-and-regular-exercise-are-associated-with-better-quality-of-life-in-gout/. Accessed November 20, 2023.
2. Cleveland Clinic. Gout. Diseases & Conditions. February 19, 2023. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4755-gout#management-and-treatment