Epidemiology of gout

Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory arthritis in men. Data from epidemiological studies conducted in several countries suggest that the prevalence and incidence of gout have risen over the last few decades, although incidence may have stabilized recently. Dietary factors (animal purines, alcohol, and fructose), co-morbid medical conditions (obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease), and medications (diuretics, aspirin, beta blockers, angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors, and non-losartan angiotensin II receptor blockers) have been confirmed to be risk factors for both hyperuricaemia and gout. In contrast, low-fat dairy products, coffee, vitamin C, calcium channel antagonists, and losartan appear to reduce the risk of developing gout. People with gout are themselves at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease, independent of traditional risk factors for these conditions.