Contemporary Prevalence of Gout and Hyperuricemia in the United States and Decadal Trends: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2016

Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 Jun;71(6):991-999. doi: 10.1002/art.40807. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the current prevalence rates and decadal trends of gout and hyperuricemia in the US, as well as the prevalence of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) among gout patients, using 2007-2016 data from a nationally representative survey of American men and women (the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES]).

Methods: Using data from 5,467 participants in the NHANES 2015-2016, we estimated the most recent prevalence rates of gout and hyperuricemia. When the NHANES was conducted, all participants were asked about their history of gout (as diagnosed by a health professional) and medication use. Hyperuricemia was defined as having a serum urate level of >7.0 mg/dl in men and >5.7 mg/dl in women. We examined decadal trends in these estimates using data from the NHANES 2007-2016 and investigated ULT usage trends using the NHANES 2007-14 (the most recent data available to date).

Results: In 2015-2016, the prevalence of gout was 3.9% among adults in the US (9.2 million people), with 5.2% [5.9 million] in men and 2.7% [3.3 million] in women. Mean serum urate levels were 6.0 mg/dl in men and 4.8 mg/dl in women, and hyperuricemia prevalence rates were 20.2% and 20.0%, respectively. The prevalence rates of gout and hyperuricemia remained stable between 2007 and 2016 (P for trend > 0.05). The prevalence of ULT use among patients with gout was 33% in 2007-2014 and remained stable over time (P for trend > 0.05).

Conclusion: In this nationally representative survey sample of adults in the US, the prevalence rates of gout and hyperuricemia remained substantial, albeit unchanged, between 2007 and 2016. Despite these rates, only one-third of gout patients were receiving ULT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Allopurinol / therapeutic use
  • Febuxostat / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Gout / drug therapy
  • Gout / epidemiology*
  • Gout Suppressants / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hyperuricemia / blood
  • Hyperuricemia / drug therapy
  • Hyperuricemia / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Prevalence
  • Probenecid / therapeutic use
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Uric Acid / blood
  • Uricosuric Agents / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Gout Suppressants
  • Uricosuric Agents
  • Febuxostat
  • Uric Acid
  • Allopurinol
  • Probenecid