Table 1 Basic characteristics of the study population
Variable | Gout | Â | Non-gout | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
Total number | 41,446 | Â | 41,446 | Â |
Mean age (SD) | 57.2 | (13.6) | 57.1 | (13.7) |
Median follow up (IQR) | 6.0 | (3.3, 9.5) | 5.9 | (3.2, 9.4) |
Male | 33,574 | 81.0 | 33,574 | 81.0 |
Body mass index | ||||
 Normal | 7394 | 17.8 | 12,341 | 29.8 |
 Underweight | 349 | 0.8 | 681 | 1.6 |
 Overweight | 15,537 | 37.5 | 14,760 | 35.6 |
 Obese | 15,311 | 36.9 | 8417 | 20.3 |
 Missing | 2855 | 6.9 | 5247 | 12.7 |
Smoking status | ||||
 Never/ex-smoker | 36,153 | 87.2 | 34,406 | 83.0 |
 Current smoker | 5293 | 12.8 | 7040 | 17.0 |
Comorbidities | ||||
 Diabetes mellitus | 2686 | 6.5 | 2417 | 5.8 |
 Treated hypertension | 11,982 | 28.9 | 6648 | 16.0 |
 Rheumatoid arthritis | 276 | 0.7 | 302 | 0.7 |
 SLE | 25 | 0.1 | 24 | 0.1 |
 Heart failure | 1342 | 3.2 | 482 | 1.2 |
 Myocardial infarction | 1660 | 4.0 | 1166 | 2.8 |
 Cerebrovascular disease | 1537 | 3.7 | 1241 | 3.0 |
 Peripheral vascular disease | 901 | 2.2 | 670 | 1.6 |
 Anti-diabetic drugs | 1847 | 4.5 | 1881 | 4.5 |
 NSAIDs | 5852 | 14.1 | 1619 | 3.9 |
 Previous hospitalisations | 11,016 | 26.6 | 9129 | 22.0 |
GP consultation rates (tertiles) | ||||
 1 | 10,375 | 25.0 | 17,256 | 41.6 |
 2 | 14,609 | 35.2 | 13,022 | 31.4 |
 3 | 16,462 | 39.7 | 11,168 | 26.9 |
IMD quintiles | ||||
 1 (least deprived) | 10,526 | 25.4 | 10,485 | 25.3 |
 2 | 10,220 | 24.7 | 10,232 | 24.7 |
 3 | 8411 | 20.3 | 8330 | 20.1 |
 4 | 7034 | 17.0 | 7164 | 17.3 |
 5 (most deprived) | 5216 | 12.6 | 5206 | 12.6 |