Study Finds Autoimmune Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism Are Causal Factors for Increased Gout Risk

A recent study in Medicine utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal association between various thyroid diseases and gout using genome-wide association study data.

Four thyroid conditions were selected as exposure factors: autoimmune hypothyroidism, autoimmune hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. Gout was chosen as the outcome variable. The study employed multiple MR methods, including the Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, Weighted Median, and Weighted Mode. Additionally, heterogeneity and directional pleiotropy were evaluated using the Cochran Q test, MR-PRESSO, and MR-Egger intercept analysis.

Autoimmune hypothyroidism and autoimmune hyperthyroidism were found to have a causal effect on the risk of developing gout. The IVW results demonstrated an odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 (95% CI, 1.03-1.21) for autoimmune hypothyroidism, with a false discovery rate (FDR) of 0.0336. Similarly, autoimmune hyperthyroidism exhibited a causal relationship with gout, with an OR of 1.07 (95% CI, 1.01-1.12) and an FDR of 0.0314.

However, the study did not find a causal link between thyroid cancer and gout, with an OR of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.98-1.09) and an FDR of 0.297. Likewise, thyroid nodules were not causally associated with gout, as indicated by an OR of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.98-1.08) and an FDR of 0.225.

Furthermore, reverse MR studies were conducted to assess the potential impact of gout on thyroid diseases. Interestingly, the results indicated that gout had no causal effect on the development of autoimmune hypothyroidism, autoimmune hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, or thyroid nodules.

The investigators concluded their study with a call for further research. “In future studies,” they wrote, “we need a larger sample size to verify the causal relationship and clarify the mechanism from multiple disciplines and perspectives.”