Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study participants
| Characteristic | Control group (no=1999) | Surgery group (no=1982) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, year | 49±6 | 47±6 | <0.001 |
| Sex, no. men (%) | 568 (28) | 573 (29) | 0.73 |
| Body mass index* | 40±5 | 42±4 | <0.001 |
| Waist circumference, cm | 117±9 | 121±10 | 0.005 |
| Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 138±18 | 145±19 | <0.001 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 85±11 | 90±11 | <0.001 |
| Hypertension, no. (%) | 1267 (63) | 1545 (78) | <0.001 |
| Uric acid, mg/dL | 5.9±1.3 | 6.0±1.3 | 0.25 |
| Uric acid ≥6.8 mg/dL, no. (%) | 463 (23) | 502 (25) | 0.11 |
| Creatinine, mg/dL | 0.8±0.1 | 0.8±0.1 | 0.71 |
| Blood glucose, mg/dL | 88±32 | 94±36 | <0.001 |
| Insulin, mU/L | 18±11 | 22±14 | <0.001 |
| Diabetes, no. (%) | 249 (13) | 334 (17) | <0.001 |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dL | 217±43 | 228±43 | <0.001 |
| Triglycerides, mg/dL | 179±125 | 200±137 | <0.001 |
| Alcohol intake, g/day | 5.3±8.1 | 5.2±7.3 | 0.76 |
| Previous cardiovascular events, no. (%) | 44 (2) | 43 (2) | 0.95 |
| Smoking, no. (%) | 417 (21) | 513 (26) | <0.001 |
| Drugs associated with gout risk†, no. (%) | 414 (21) | 433 (22) | 0.38 |
Plus–minus values are means±SD.
*The body mass index is the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres.
†Drugs associated with gout risk: diuretics, β-blockers, low-dose acetylsalicylic acid, statins, ciclosporin and organic nitrates.