Global, regional, and national burden of gout, 1990–2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis manifesting as acute episodes of severe joint pain and swelling, which can progress to chronic tophaceous or chronic erosive gout, or both. Here, we present the most up-to-date global, regional, and national estimates for prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) due to gout by sex, age, and location from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, as well as forecasted prevalence to 2050.

Methods

Gout prevalence and YLDs from 1990 to 2020 were estimated by drawing on population-based data from 35 countries and claims data from the USA and Taiwan (province of China). Nested Bayesian meta-regression models were used to estimate prevalence and YLDs due to gout by age, sex, and location. Prevalence was forecast to 2050 with a mixed-effects model.

Findings

In 2020, 55·8 million (95% uncertainty interval 44·4–69·8) people globally had gout, with an age-standardised prevalence of 659·3 (525·4–822·3) per 100 000, an increase of 22·5% (20·9–24·2) since 1990. Globally, the prevalence of gout in 2020 was 3·26 (3·11–3·39) times higher in males than in females and increased with age. The total number of prevalent cases of gout is estimated to reach 95·8 million (81·1–116) in 2050, with population growth being the largest contributor to this increase and only a very small contribution from the forecasted change in gout prevalence. Age-standardised gout prevalence in 2050 is forecast to be 667 (531–830) per 100 000 population. The global age-standardised YLD rate of gout was 20·5 (14·4–28·2) per 100 000 population in 2020. High BMI accounted for 34·3% (27·7–40·6) of YLDs due to gout and kidney dysfunction accounted for 11·8% (9·3–14·2).

Interpretation

Our forecasting model estimates that the number of individuals with gout will increase by more than 70% from 2020 to 2050, primarily due to population growth and ageing. With the association between gout disability and high BMI, dietary and lifestyle modifications focusing on bodyweight reduction are needed at the population level to reduce the burden of gout along with access to interventions to prevent and control flares. Despite the rigour of the standardised GBD methodology and modelling, in many countries, particularly low-income and middle-income countries, estimates are based on modelled rather than primary data and are also lacking severity and disability estimates. We strongly encourage the collection of these data to be included in future GBD iterations.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health.