How common is Gout
The overall prevalence of gout in the United States is estimated to be 3.9% (affecting 5.9% of men and 2% of women and affecting a total of 8.3 million individuals), representing by far the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. Hyperuricemia is a necessary, but not sufficient, risk factor in gout onset and is seen in approximately one of every five adults in the United States. Although only a small proportion of individuals with hyperuricemia eventually develop gout (∼15%), the risk increases to >20% in the context of marked hyperuricemia (e.g., >9–10 mg/dL). The risk of gout increases with advancing age and parallels age-related increases in serum urate. The frequency of gout in those aged >80 years is >30-fold higher than in those aged between 20 and 29 years. It has been estimated that the prevalence of gout has increased by almost 50% in the last few decades alone, an increase that appears to be in part related to rising rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
