Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the study population*

	Men		Women		p Value
	n	% or SD	n	% or SD	p Value
* p Values represent comparisons between men and women for the variables listed.
Totals	4975	81%	1158	19%
Age (mean years)	58	14	70	12	<0.001
Mean and median number of encounters for gout	2.7, 2	3	2.9, 2	2	<0.001
Gout-associated comorbidities
Hypertension	2833	57%	939	81%	<0.001
Dyslipidaemia	1894	38%	491	42%	<0.01
Coronary heart disease	943	19%	287	25%	<0.001
Peripheral arterial disease	202	4%	77	7%	<0.001
Diabetes mellitus	866	17%	350	30%	<0.001
Nephrolithiasis	153	3%	27	2%	0.18
Renal insufficiency	485	10%	204	18%	<0.001
Renal failure	308	6%	143	12%	<0.001
Drugs that can trigger or exacerbate gout (receipt of ⩾1 prescription)
Thiazide diuretics	1487	30%	636	55%	<0.001
All diuretics	2003	40%	897	77%	<0.001