Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that can be extremely painful and come on abruptly. It has been categorised as a type of crystal arthritis with “severe but self-limiting arthritis caused by microscopic crystals being deposited in and around the joints.”[1,2]

Around one in 50 of the UK population (1.6 million people) have had a recorded diagnosis of gout with 66,000 new diagnoses made each year. Men are more likely to experience gout, with typical age of onset from the 30s onwards, compared to after the menopause in women.[1,2]

People with gout are at a 29% higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease, and gout flare ups are associated with an increase in cardiovascular events within four months of the flare.[2]

Obesity doubles the risk of developing gout compared to someone in the ‘healthy’ BMI range, and being overweight makes gout more likely to develop at a younger age. Diabetes increases risk by 22% in men and 71% in women.

The build-up of crystal deposits in joints or under the skin can result in the development of small white pimples or nodules called tophi which may lead to deformity. Long-term complications include more permanent joint damage and increased risk of kidney stones.[1,3]