Objective: This study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular (CV) and atherothrombosis risk factors in patients with gout and hyperuricaemia with suspected sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) compared with a control group of subjects with knee OA and SAHS.
Methods: Clinical information on CV risk factors and atherothrombosis was collected in a rheumatology department in patients with gout and hyperuricaemia and suspicion of SAHS. Confirmation polysomnography that registered apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation during sleep (SaO2) was performed. The control group consisted of patients with OA and polysomnographically confirmed SAHS.
Results: In the gout patient group (54 patients, 48 men), CV risk factors were found in 77.8% and evidence of atherothrombosis in 46.3%. In the OA group (36 patients, 27 men), CV risk factors were found in 66.7% and evidence of atherothrombosis in 0%. SAHS diagnosis was confirmed by polysomnography in 88.9% of patients. AHI showed mild, moderate and severe SAHS in 12%, 26% and 66% of the gout patients and 45%, 24% and 30% of the OA patients, respectively. SaO2 was 90.18% in the gout group and 91.26% in the OA group.
Conclusion: Patients with gout and hyperuricaemia and suspicion of SAHS had polysomnographically confirmed SAHS in 88.9% of cases. These patients had more severe forms of SAHS and a greater prevalence of documented atherothrombotic disease compared with a control group with OA.
Keywords: atherothrombosis; cardiovascular risk; gout; sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome; uric acid.