UK gout epidemic is no laughing matter

“The Comforts of Bath: Gouty Gourmand at Dinner” by the English artist and caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson
“The Comforts of Bath: Gouty Gourmand at Dinner” by the English artist and caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson
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More than a million people in Britain have gout after a “frightening” rise in cases over the past decade, blamed on alcohol, red meat, junk food and obesity.

However, only a third of patients receive proper treatment because of a lack of knowledge among GPs and embarrassment over a condition long associated with Henry VIII or the port-addled rakes depicted in 18th century cartoons. Experts say that the condition once known as the “disease of kings” is now a serious problem as rich diets become more common.

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the blood, which crystallises in joints and around organs. Foods such as beef, pork, lamb, seafood and sugary drinks, beer and spirits increase the amount of