Epidemiology of gout

Abstract

Gout is the most prevalent form of inflammatory arthropathy. Several studies suggest that its prevalence and incidence have risen in recent decades. Numerous risk factors for the development of gout have been established, including hyperuricaemia, genetic factors, dietary factors, alcohol consumption, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, obesity, diuretic use and chronic renal disease. Osteoarthritis predisposes to local crystal deposition. Gout appears to be an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, additional to the risk conferred by its association with traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Figure 1

Incidence of gout according to serum uric acid level. Five-year cumulative incidence of gout according to serum uric acid level in men in the Normative Aging Study [33].

Figure 2

Risk of developing gout according to serum uric acid level. Relative risk of developing gout according to serum uric acid level in men and women in the Framingham Heart Study [29]. Referent group: serum uric acid <5.0 mg/dl. *Adjusted for age, education, body mass index, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diuretic use, blood glucose level, blood cholesterol level, and menopausal status.