Contemporary Prevalence of Gout and Hyperuricemia in the United States and Decadal Trends: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2016

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the current prevalence rates and decadal trends of gout and hyperuricemia in the US, as well as the prevalence of urate‐lowering therapy (ULT) among gout patients, using 2007–2016 data from a nationally representative survey of American men and women (the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES]). Methods: Using data from 5,467 participants in the NHANES 2015–2016, we estimated the most recent prevalence rates of gout and hyperuricemia. When the NHANES was conducted, all participants were asked about their history of gout (as diagnosed by a health professional) and medication use. Hyperuricemia was defined as having a serum urate level of >7.0 mg/dl in men and >5.7 mg/dl in women. We examined decadal trends in these estimates using data from the NHANES 2007–2016 and investigated ULT usage trends using the NHANES 2007–14 (the most recent data available to date). Results: In 2015–2016, the prevalence of gout was 3.9% among adults in the US (9.2 million people), with 5.2% [5.9 million] in men and 2.7% [3.3 million] in women. Mean serum urate levels were 6.0 mg/dl in men and 4.8 mg/dl in women, and hyperuricemia prevalence rates were 20.2% and 20.0%, respectively. The prevalence rates of gout and hyperuricemia remained stable between 2007 and 2016 (P for trend > 0.05). The prevalence of ULT use among patients with gout was 33% in 2007–2014 and remained stable over time (P for trend > 0.05). Conclusion: In this nationally representative survey sample of adults in the US, the prevalence rates of gout and hyperuricemia remained substantial, albeit unchanged, between 2007 and 2016. Despite these rates, only one‐third of gout patients were receiving ULT.