Signs of kidney disease

See Doctor Soon

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 14, 2026

See Doctor Soon2 studies

Gout patients face over double the risk of developing chronic kidney disease

Two studies—a population-based cohort study of 41,446 gout patients and a meta-analysis of 17 observational studies—consistently demonstrate that gout independently increases chronic kidney disease risk. The cohort study found gout patients developed CKD stage 3+ at 28.6 per 10,000 person-years versus 15.8 in controls, representing a 78% increased risk after adjustment (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.70–1.85). The meta-analysis confirmed this with a pooled adjusted odds ratio of 2.41 (95% CI 1.86–3.11) and found 24% of gout patients had CKD stage 3 or higher. Both analyses controlled for shared risk factors, establishing gout as an independent contributor to kidney disease progression. Gout patients should undergo regular kidney function monitoring, including serum creatinine and estimated GFR, to detect early signs of renal decline.

Evidence

Risk of chronic kidney disease in patients with gout and the impact of urate lowering therapy: a population-based cohort study

Authors: Belcher, Clarson, Mallen, Muller, Roddy

Published: October 30, 2018

A retrospective cohort study using UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink examined 41,446 patients with incident gout matched 1:1 to controls without gout between 1998-2016. The absolute rate of developing CKD stage 3 or higher was 28.6 per 10,000 person-years in gout patients versus 15.8 per 10,000 person-years in non-gout patients. After adjustment for confounders, gout was associated with a 78% increased risk of incident CKD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.78, 95% CI 1.70-1.85). This establishes gout as an independent risk factor for kidney disease progression.

View Source →

Gout and risk of chronic kidney disease and nephrolithiasis meta-analysis of observational studies

Authors: Belcher, J, Mallen, CD, Roddy, E

Published: April 1, 2015

Meta-analysis of 17 observational studies found pooled prevalence of chronic kidney disease stage ≥3 in gout patients was 24% (95% CI 19% to 28%). Gout was independently associated with CKD with a pooled adjusted odds ratio of 2.41 (95% CI 1.86 to 3.11), indicating gout patients have more than double the risk of CKD compared to those without gout. Seven studies specifically examined CKD outcomes. The strong independent association after adjustment suggests gout itself contributes to kidney disease risk beyond shared risk factors.

View Source →