'Victorian' health condition on the rise among people in their 20s and 30s

A surge in cases of a painful Victorian-era condition among people in their 20s and 30s has sparked concern among health officials. They've noted an increase in instances of gout, particularly in younger individuals.

The latest data reveals a 30% jump in cases within the 20s and 30s age bracket. The condition, notorious for its excruciating pain, is often associated with Victorian Britain, but continues to be prevalent today.

Approximately one in 40 Brits grapple with gout, making it the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. In more than half of all cases, gout presents as an intensely painful, red, and hot joint in the big toe.

The condition can then spread to the rest of our feet and hands and even become disabling. Health experts are now advocating for enhanced monitoring and expedited treatment of the condition, reports Birmingham Live.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, said: "Unfortunately, gout is a condition that is very much still with us, despite the fact that simple blood tests can help identify people likely to suffer a flare before it ever happens. The charity Arthritis Action says one in 40 Brits now have the condition and it can lead to debilitating pain, even for younger people.

"A study published in the journal BMC Primary Care last November found gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis yet, frequently, it is not managed well enough or taken seriously. The last major UK study into the condition was held as long ago as 2012.

"At that time, a report in the British Medical Journal's (BMJ) Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases revealed cases were significantly higher in 2012 than in 1997, the date of the preceding major study, with a 63.9% increase in prevalence and 29.6% increase in incidence over this period. Concerningly, although most gout patients were still 60 or older, the number of patients aged between 20 and 30 had increased by 30%.

"In some ways, there has been little advance since 2012. NHS Digital statistics show that 234,000 people were admitted to hospital with gout in 2021-2022. The 2023 BMC Primary Care report examined 51,784 cases of people with the disease and found 35.9% suffered at least one more flare during the study period. It found cases of gout flares are more likely in people who are male, Black, have a higher BMI, suffer from heart failure, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) or who take diuretics."