We examined the components of metabolic syndrome associated with gout in different age strata by a large-scale case-controlled study. Totally, 12,179 gouty subjects were divided into three groups according to their ages at first visit: young- (19-44 years), middle- (45-64 years), and old-aged (>or=65 years) groups. Their clinical and laboratory data, as well as the risk of gout by the metabolic syndrome, were analyzed in three age groups and compared with a control population. The numbers of the cases in the young-, middle-, and old-aged groups in the gout population were 4,698, 4,847, and 2,634, respectively. The serum urate level and the percentage of positive family history of gout were the highest in young-aged group and declined with increasing age. When compared with the data of the control population, the incidence of overweight (body mass index, >or=24.2 kg/m(2)) and hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride, >or=2.26 mmol/l) were significantly higher in the gout population for all age groups. The incidence of type 2 diabetes was significantly higher in the gout as well for all age groups, and the odds ratio was highest in the young-aged group [odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 5.55 (3.05-10.09)]. In all, except for the old-aged groups, the incidence of hypercholesterolemia was significantly higher in the gout than in the control population, whereas the incidence of hypertension was significantly higher in the gout than in the control population only in the old-aged group. Various clinical and laboratory data were suggested to be the risks of gout in different degrees between age strata.