Global burden of gout in age groups 10 to 54 years from 1990 to 2021: Trend of the global burden of disease study

This study evaluates the global burden of gout in young adults across 204 countries, focusing on incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and risk factors. Data were extracted from the 2019 global burden of disease study. We analyzed gout burden using numbers, rates, and estimated annual percentage change to assess trends over time, stratified by sex, age, geographical region, and the sociodemographic development index (SDI). From 1990 to 2021, the global incidence, prevalence, and DALYs associated with gout exhibited a marked increase. The incidence rate rose from 1.94 million to 3.89 million cases, while the prevalence rate increased from 9.14 million to 19.24 million. Males consistently demonstrated higher incidence, prevalence, and DALYs compared to females, though similar upward trends were observed in both sexes. Age specific analyses showed that the gout burden increased with age, peaking in the 50 to 54 age group. Notably, there is a growing burden among younger individuals. High body mass index emerged as the leading risk factor for gout. This study highlights a growing global burden of gout, with an alarming shift towards younger age groups and a significant rise in females. High body mass index remains the predominant modifiable risk factor. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the increasing impact of gout, particularly among younger populations and females.