Relationship between Gout and Diabetes Mellitus after Acute Pancreatitis: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Objective. After acute pancreatitis, individuals often have low-grade inflammation, and subsequently develop metabolic sequelae such as post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus (PPDM). Although numerous studies have investigated the relationship between gout and type 2 diabetes, little is known about the relationship between gout and PPDM. The aim was to investigate the associations between gout and PPDM.

Methods. Using nationwide pharmaceutical dispensing data linked to hospital discharge data in New Zealand, gout and PPDM were identified among individuals after first episode of acute pancreatitis between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, social deprivation index, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, comorbidities, medications (glucocorticoids, statins, and estrogens), and characteristics of acute pancreatitis.

Results. A total of 10,117 individuals were included in the analysis of risk for gout and 9471 in the analysis of risk for PPDM. PPDM was significantly associated with a higher risk of gout in the overall cohort (adjusted HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.15–3.06) and women (2.72, 95% CI 1.31–5.65), but not in men (1.42, 95% CI 0.73–2.78). Preexisting gout was significantly associated with a higher risk of PPDM in the overall cohort (adjusted HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04–2.41) and women (2.66, 95% CI 1.29–5.49), but not in men (1.31, 95% CI 0.78–2.20).

Conclusion. The relationship between gout and PPDM is bidirectional in the post-pancreatitis setting. A history of gout is a risk factor of PPDM, particularly in women.