Qianhui Gao1, Xiaoyu Cheng1, Tony R Merriman2, Can Wang1, Lingling Cui1, Hui Zhang3, Wenyan Sun3, Jing Wang4, Feiyue Wang4, Changgui Li5, Jie Lu6. 1. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 266003 Qingdao, China. 2. Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University, 266003 Qingdao, China; Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Alabama, USA. 3. Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University, 266003 Qingdao, China. 4. Institute of Smart Healthcare Systems, Qingdao Academy of Intelligent Industries, 266109 Qingdao, China; The State Key Laboratory for Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China. 5. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 266003 Qingdao, China; Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University, 266003 Qingdao, China. 6. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 266003 Qingdao, China; Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University, 266003 Qingdao, China. Electronic address: 13127006046@163.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of gout is increasing but studies of its clinical features in large samples are lacking. This study aimed to clarify changes in the clinical manifestations of gout in China over the last decade and investigate the clinical features and risk factors of early-onset gout. METHODS: Clinical manifestations were compared between 9754 gout patients who first presented at our clinic with gout in 2008-2012 (earlier group) or 2013-2018 (later group). Gout onset≤30 years old was defined as early-onset and>30 years as late-onset. Clinical features and risk factors were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The gout-onset age was 4.14 years younger and the percentage of early-onset gout (3827 patients) was higher in the later 2013-2018 group (5979 patients). The disease duration was significantly shorter (5.72±0.09 vs. 6.01±0.11 years P < 0,05) and the ratio of patients with tophi was correspondingly lower in the later group (22.0% vs. 20.0%, P < 0,05). More patients were obese (32.6% vs. 37.7%, P<0.001) and serum urate levels (465.0±1.9μmol/L vs. 485.5±1.5μmol/L) were significantly higher in the later group. As the age of gout-onset became younger, we did the multivariate logistic regression and identified a positive family history, male sex, obesity, elevated serum urate, and sugar-sweetened soft drinks as independent predictors of early-onset gout. CONCLUSION: The manifestations of gout in China have changed over the last decade, associated with a trend towards younger onset.
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of gout is increasing but studies of its clinical features in large samples are lacking. This study aimed to clarify changes in the clinical manifestations of gout in China over the last decade and investigate the clinical features and risk factors of early-onset gout. METHODS: Clinical manifestations were compared between 9754 gout patients who first presented at our clinic with gout in 2008-2012 (earlier group) or 2013-2018 (later group). Gout onset≤30 years old was defined as early-onset and>30 years as late-onset. Clinical features and risk factors were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The gout-onset age was 4.14 years younger and the percentage of early-onset gout (3827 patients) was higher in the later 2013-2018 group (5979 patients). The disease duration was significantly shorter (5.72±0.09 vs. 6.01±0.11 years P < 0,05) and the ratio of patients with tophi was correspondingly lower in the later group (22.0% vs. 20.0%, P < 0,05). More patients were obese (32.6% vs. 37.7%, P<0.001) and serum urate levels (465.0±1.9μmol/L vs. 485.5±1.5μmol/L) were significantly higher in the later group. As the age of gout-onset became younger, we did the multivariate logistic regression and identified a positive family history, male sex, obesity, elevated serum urate, and sugar-sweetened soft drinks as independent predictors of early-onset gout. CONCLUSION: The manifestations of gout in China have changed over the last decade, associated with a trend towards younger onset.