The frequencies of obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD),hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemias, cardiac diseases (including coronary heart disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation), stroke and peripheral arterial disease have been repeatedly shown to be increased in gout.
There is an increased incidence of gout in the elderly, with the clinical picture differing somewhat from middle age. Additionally, complications may be more severe. The management of gout may be more challenging in the elderly, due to medical co-morbidities, deteriorating metabolic function and drug interactions due to polypharmacy.
Older people with decreased kidney function, low albumin levels, or requiring diuretic and/or aspirin therapy, are at higher risk of developing gout.
In the West, gout affects around 1% of adult men over 45 years of age. The estimated incidence being 0.6 to 2.1 per 1000 per year, with a prevalence of 9.5 to 13.5 per 1000 persons of all ages.
Gout in the elderly
