Black Adults Have a Higher Gout Risk Save

In a cross-sectional study of US adults, gout was more prevalent in black adults compared to white adults; possibly explained by sex-specific dietary differences and social determinants of health and clinical factors. 

Population data was derived from survey of 18,693 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2016) that included 3304 Black women, 6195 White women, 3085 Black men, and 6109 White men (mean ages between 45-50 yrs).

Age-standardized prevalence of gout was:

• Black women: 3.5%
• White women: 2.0% (age-adjusted odds ratio 1.81 [95% CI, 1.29-2.53])
• Black men: 7.0%
• White men: 5.4% (age-adjusted OR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.02-1.55]).

These significant associations became nonsignificant after adjusting for all risk factors (ORs, 1.05 [95% CI, 0.67-1.65]).

Black men and women have a 26% to 81% higher risk of gout (compared to white counterparts).

Racial differences may be explained by sex-specific differences in diet and social determinants of health and clinical factors (poverty, diet, BMI, CKD, etc). Culturally informed efforts focusing on these factors could reduce current gout-related disparities.