Cases of gout are rising in the UK, who is more likely to get it?

1.5 million people in the UK suffer from gout, according to Arthritis UK. Hospital admissions for the debilitating condition in the last two years stood at 234,000. This disease is more common in men than in women and children are less likely to get it. Experts blame the increase in cases on lifestyle changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Disease of Kings

Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden attacks of severe pain and swelling, the NHS describes. It is associated with excessive consumption of meat and alcohol, thus the nickname ‘disease of kings’ (royals and upper class families were the only ones who had easy access to meat and alcohol in the olden days).

Now, experts believe that lack of physical activity and binge-eating are to blame for the increase in numbers across the UK. The condition mainly affects men over 30 and women after the menopause. It is more common in men than in women, affecting between one and two out of 100 people in the UK. According to the NHS, the following factors increase one’s risk of developing gout:

• obesity, high blood pressure and/or diabetes
• having a close relative with gout
• eating foods that cause a build-up of uric acid, such as red meat, offal and seafood
• drinking too much beer or spirits
• kidney problems

Signs and symptoms

The health service explains that any joint can be affected by gout. However, it usually affects joints towards the ends of the limbs, such as the toes, ankles, knees and fingers. Some signs to look for include:

• severe pain in one or more joints
• the joint feeling hot and very tender
• swelling in and around the affected joint
• red, shiny skin over the affected joint

These symptoms may last between three and 10 days, but most people with the condition will experience subsequent attacks, usually within a year.

Sources used:

Daily Mail: How 'the disease of kings' has returned: Why cases of gout are rising in Britain - are YOU at risk?

NHS Inform: Gout

American Kidney Fund: Who is at risk for gout?