Gout prevalence explodes globally 

Gout

By Emma Wilkinson

10 Aug 2020

The prevalence of gout has increased across the world at an alarming rate over the last two decades, new research shows.

The analysis of data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study found that in 2017 there were approximately 41.2 million prevalent cases of gout, with the rate of new diagnosed cases being 92 per 100,000 people, an increase of 5.5% from 1990.

The top three countries with the highest age-standardised point prevalence estimates of gout were New Zealand (1,394.0), Australia (1,171.4), and the United States (996.0), the figures showed.

Gout was more common in males and in older people and high body mass index and impaired kidney function were risk factors for gout.

“The increasing trend of gout burden is most likely to continue as the global ageing population is on the rise,” said senior author Emma Smith, from the Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Kolling Institute, at The University of Sydney, Australia. “Attempts to lessen the disease onset and future burden of gout require better awareness, especially of risk factors, and early diagnosis and treatment.”

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