Risk Factors & Triggers

Following is a list of risk factors and triggers that may play a role in the disease:

Obesity - a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher
Joint injury - urate crystals are more likely to form in a joint that was previously damaged
Diuretic medicines (taken for high blood pressure, leg swelling or heart failure) - can decrease the kidney's ability to remove uric acid, resulting in hyperuricemia
Untreated high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
High levels of serum triglycerides (a fatty substance) in the blood - associated with an increased risk of heart disease
Chemotherapy - the breakdown and turnover of cells leads to an increased production of uric acid
Kidney disease
Genetics - one out of four people with gout have a family history of the condition
Hyperuricemia - elevated uric acid levels

Regular, excessive alcohol intake, especially beer; or a drinking "binge"
Surgery or sudden severe illness
Consumption of large quantities of purine-rich foods, especially meat products
Radiation therapy
Crash diets, particularly high-protein fad diets
Starting a uric acid-lowering treatment medicine (even though it may be the correct long-term therapy)
Taking the drug cyclosporine (an anti-rejection transplant medication)