OBJECTIVE: Our aim in this study to determine if serum uric acid level measured at baseline is a risk factor to develop Myocardial Infarction among people diagnosed with gout. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study, which used the THIN (The Health Improvement Network), an electronic medical records database from the UK. Obtained were SUA level at baseline after gout diagnosis and follow-up till time of event. We performed Cox proportional hazard regression models to examine the relation of SUA levels to risk of incident MI for men and women separately, and the multivariable regression model. RESULTS: There were 12,180 individuals included in this study, of them, 70% (n=8539) were men. There were 200 events of MI, 145 in men and 55 in women. SUA were not associated with risk of MI in unadjusted and adjusted multivariable regression model, the crude HR of MI in men were 1.27 (95% CI: 0.70-2.30), 0.97 (95% CI: 0.56-1.69), 0.83 (95% CI: 0.47-1.46), and 1.07 (95% CI: 0.62-1.84), respectively, for each increased SUA categories. No change observed after full adjustment. Similar results were also observed in women. CONCLUSION: There is no association between baseline SUA and risk of MI among gout patients.

Yes / Smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, several population studies also show a higher risk in people 3–5 years after smoking cessation than in continuing smokers. After 10–12 years the risk equates to that of never-smokers. Small cohort studies suggest diabetes control deteriorates temporarily during the first year after quitting. We examined whether or not quitting smoking was associated with altered diabetes control in a population study, for how long this association persisted, and whether or not this association was mediated by weight change. Methods We did a retrospective cohort study (Jan 1, 2005, to Dec 31, 2010) of adult smokers with type 2 diabetes using The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a large UK primary care database. We developed adjusted multilevel regression models to investigate the association between a quit event, smoking abstinence duration, change in HbA1c, and the mediating effect of weight change. Findings 10 692 adult smokers with type 2 diabetes were included. 3131 (29%) quit smoking and remained abstinent for at least 1 year. After adjustment for potential confounders, HbA1c increased by 0·21% (95% CI 0·17–0·25; p<0·001; [2·34 mmol/mol (95% CI 1·91–2·77)]) within the first year after quitting. HbA1c decreased as abstinence continued and became comparable to that of continual smokers after 3 years. This increase in HbA1c was not mediated by weight change. Interpretation In type 2 diabetes, smoking cessation is associated with deterioration in glycaemic control that lasts for 3 years and is unrelated to weight gain. At a population level, this temporary rise could increase microvascular complications.