Snoring can double a person's risk of developing gout, new research suggests. A study of around 8,000 people suggests those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are more likely to develop the agonising joint condition. Although gout is typically associated with heavy people who overindulge in alcohol and rich food, the UK study found that OSA patients with a healthy BMI are twice as likely to develop gout as those without the sleep disorder. Sleep apnoea occurs when the muscles and soft tissue in the throat relax, blocking the airways. This restricts a person's oxygen access, which is thought to drive the production of uric acid. Excessive amounts of uric acid can turn into crystals that lead to severe inflammation and pain in the knees, ankles and feet, which is defined as gout. OSA affects between four and 10 per cent of people in the UK, while two per cent suffer from gout. In the US, around 22 million have sleep apnoea, while 8.3 million have the arthritic condition. The researchers, from Keele University, analysed 15,879 OSA patients and 63,296 healthy adults. The participants were followed for around six years. Results, published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, suggest that 4.9 per cent of the OSA patients developed gout compared to just 2.6 per cent of those without the sleep condition, making those with OSA 42 per cent more at risk. Of the patients who went on to get gout, most were diagnosed with the arthritic condition between one and two years after developing OSA, however, it can take up to five years for symptoms to appear. Lead author Dr Edward Roddy said: 'People with sleep apnoea are at an increased risk of gout in both the short and long term. 'Since this risk was highest in people with normal body mass index, doctors and other health professionals should consider the possibility of gout in patents with sleep apnoea - regardless of body mass index.'