Gout is the most prevalent form of inflammatory arthropathy. Several studies suggest that its prevalence and incidence have risen in recent decades. Numerous risk factors for the development of gout have been established, including hyperuricaemia, genetic factors, dietary factors, alcohol consumption, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, obesity, diuretic use and chronic renal disease. Osteoarthritis predisposes to local crystal deposition. Gout appears to be an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, additional to the risk conferred by its association with traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Gout is the most common cause of inflammatory arthritis worldwide. In UK general practice, the overall prevalence has increased from 1.4% in 1999 to 2.49% in 2012 [ 1], despite the availability of effective and potentially curative urate-lowering drugs for >50 years and evidence-based British and European management guidelines for nearly a decade [ 2, 3].

Objective: To determine the population prevalence and examine factors associated with hallux valgus in a primary care population.Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to all adults age >30 years registered with 2 general practices. Validated instruments assessed self‐reported hallux valgus, nodal osteoarthritis, and knee pain. The questionnaire also asked about big toe pain, joint replacement, and history of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Hallux valgus prevalence was calculated and standardized by the source population in terms of age, sex, knee pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. A nested case–control study was undertaken and age‐sex adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated between hallux valgus and age, sex, body mass index, nodal osteoarthritis, knee pain, big toe pain, joint replacement, self‐reported osteoarthritis, and self‐reported rheumatoid arthritis, using a binary logistic regression model.Results: A total of 13,684 questionnaires were mailed and 4,249 (32%) responses were received. The standardized prevalence of hallux valgus was 28.4%. Hallux valgus was associated with age (adjusted OR 1.61 per decade; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.52–1.69), female sex (adjusted OR 2.64; 95% CI 2.26–3.08), nodal osteoarthritis (adjusted OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.26–2.17), knee pain (adjusted OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.65–2.32), big toe pain (adjusted OR 3.28; 95% CI 2.48–4.33), self‐reported osteoarthritis (adjusted OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.15–1.72), and self‐reported rheumatoid arthritis (adjusted OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.43–2.91).Conclusion: Hallux valgus is prevalent in the community and is associated with age, female sex, and components of generalized osteoarthritis such as nodal osteoarthritis, knee pain, big toe pain, and self‐reported osteoarthritis.

Introduction: To determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and nephrolithiasis in people with gout, and the association between gout and prevalent or incident chronic kidney disease and nephrolithiasis. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Data sources; MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases, hand-searched reference lists, citation history and contact with authors. Eligibility criteria: cohort, case–control or cross-sectional studies which examined the occurrence of chronic kidney disease or nephrolithiasis amongst adults with gout (with or without a non-gout comparator group) in primary care or general population samples. Prevalence and risk estimate meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model. Results: Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis (chronic kidney disease n = 7, nephrolithiasis n = 8, both n = 2). Pooled prevalence estimates of chronic kidney disease stage ≥3 and self-reported lifetime nephrolithiasis in people with gout were 24% (95% confidence interval 19% to 28%) and 14% (95% CI 12% to 17%) respectively. Gout was associated with both chronic kidney disease (pooled adjusted odds ratio 2.41, 95% confidence interval 1.86 to 3.11) and self-reported lifetime nephrolithiasis (1.77, 1.43 to 2.19). Conclusions: Chronic kidney disease and nephrolithiasis are commonly found amongst patients with gout. Gout is independently associated with both chronic kidney disease and nephrolithiasis. Patients with gout should be actively screened for chronic kidney disease and its consequences.