Diuretic-Induced Gout in Elderly Women

During a 21/2-year period, gout was diagnosed in 51 men and 9 women at the Rheumatology Unit in Bristol. The men had a mean age of 52 years and mean age of onset of gout of 46 years, whereas the women had a mean age of 82 years and a mean age of onset of 77 years. All the women were on long-term diuretic therapy compared to 33% of the men; 77% had mild impairment of renal function and 44% had tophi. The men could recall four times as many attacks of acute gout as the women. Elderly women are particularly prone to diuretic-induced tophaceous gout but less likely to present with acute gout than men.