Alcohol consumption and the incidence of hyperuricemia in Japanese men and women

The present study examined the association between alcohol consumption and hyperuricemia in Japanese men and women. This is a population-based retrospective cohort study (ISSA-CKD study). A total of 5153 participants without hyperuricemia were followed up from baseline (first health check-up of each participant) to the last visit during the study period (2008-2019). Alcohol consumption was classified into non-drinkers, occasional, and daily drinkers (average alcohol intake < 22 g/day, 22-43 g/day, 44-65 g/day, or ≥ 66 g/day). The outcome was incident hyperuricemia (uric acid > 416 μmol/L [7.0 mg/dL]). During average follow-up of 5.5 years, 496 men and 128 women developed new-onset hyperuricemia. Increases in the incidence (per 1,000 person-years) of hyperuricemia were associated with the frequency/amount of alcohol consumed among men (non-drinkers: 33.7, occasional: 43.9, daily (< 22 g/day): 41.7, daily 22-43 g/day: 60.6, daily 44-65 g/day: 68.0, and daily ≥ 66 g/day: 92.7; P < 0.001). Similar results were observed in women (non-drinkers: 6.1, occasional: 10.3, daily (< 22 g/day): 8.8, daily(≥ 22 g/day): 13.4; P = 0.0051). After multivariable adjustment, hazard ratios increased with higher alcohol consumption in both men and women. In conclusion, alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia in each sex. Even low or occasional intake elevated the risk, indicating no safe level of alcohol consumption.