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Gout is quite common, especially in older people.

About 1 in 100 people get it at some point. Gout is far more common in men than women.¹

Five in 100 men over age 65 have gout. But less than 1 in 100 women over 65 get it.² Only about 1 to 2 in 1,000 men age 50 to 65 have gout.³ It's even less common in younger people.⁴

Gout seems to be getting more common. This might be because people live longer, so they're more likely to reach an age when gout is more likely.

Also, people are more likely to do things that increase the risk of gout. This includes:⁵

• Being obese
• Eating more meat and seafood
• Taking diuretic (water) pills for medical conditions like heart failure and high blood pressure.

Gout may also be more common in some non-white ethnic groups.¹ One study showed that:⁶

• More than 3 in 1,000 African-American men have gout
• Less than 2 in 1,000 white men have gout.

This may partly be because black men are at greater risk of getting high blood pressure. High blood pressure and medication used to treat this condition makes gout more likely.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.