Recent trend in onset age of gout in Japan

Abstract

We investigated the recent trend in the onset age of and factors influencing gout in Japan. Three hundred and fifty-eight male gouty patients, who first visited our clinic between June 2016 and May 2017, were enrolled. The average age at the onset of gout confirmed from patient reports was 41.9 ±10.8 years, and patients in their 40s were the most common, accounting for 36.9%, with 33.8% in their 30s, 13.1% in their 50s, and 9.8% in their 20s or younger. Those in their 70s or older comprised only 1.4%. Obesity was a major factor in the onset of gout in younger people, especially in their teens, and drinking habits as a cause of obesity were observed in all ages except those in their teens, especially those in their 60s. Although there were many cases with the uric acid underexcretion type, the renal overload type was more common in those in their 60s than in other age groups. Based on environmental factors including nutritional and qualitative changes in dietary habits, gout episodes involving younger people in Japan, mainly in their 30s to 40s, have increased over the 20 years from 1965 to 1984. However, it is considered that the age at onset has not changed since then.