Gout is more common in men than in women. Six out of 1,000 men develop gout, compared with one out of 1,000 women.1 The first attack of gout in men most often occurs between the ages of 30 and 50.2 In women, it is rare for gout to occur until after menopause.3
Gout often runs in families: 20% of people with gout have a family history of the disease.2 It is especially common in Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, and in some Native American tribes.4
Children are rarely diagnosed with gout. If a child does develop gout, the doctor will check to see whether the child has a problem present since birth (congenital) that is affecting metabolism.
References
Citations
Terkeltaub R (2004). Gout and hyperuricemia section of Crystal deposition diseases. In L Goldman, D Ausiello, eds., Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed., vol. 2, pp. 1703–1708. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Klippel JH, et al. (1999). Gout section of Regional pain and monoarticular disorders. In Primary Care Rheumatology, pp. 117–124. London: Mosby.
Hellman DB, Stone JH (2005). Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. In LM Tierney Jr et al., eds., Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 44th ed., pp. 781–789. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
| Last Updated | July 24, 2006 |
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