Objective To analyze the current status of disease burden of gout in the world, China, and regions with different socio-demographic indexes (SDIs) from 1990 to 2021 and provide evidence for the development and improvement of gout prevention strategies .

Methods The database of Global Burden of Disease 2021 was used to analyze the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate of gout in the world, China, and regions with different SDI from 1990 to 2021. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) during this period was calculated to evaluate the trend of the disease burden of gout. Bayesian age-period-cohort model (BAPC) was used to predict the age-standardized incidence of gout in the future.

Results The incidence, prevalence, and DALYs rates of gout increased from 74.68/100 000, 417.44/100 000, and 13.08/100 000 in 1990 to 119.14/100 000, 715.65/100 000 and 22.15/100 000, respectively, in the world. The incidence, prevalence, and DALYs rates of gout increased from 100.51/100 000, 507.61/100 000, and 16.20/100 000 in 1990 to 216.47/100 000, 1117.98/100 000, and 36.97/100 000 in 2021, respectively, in China. The incidence, prevalence and DALYs rates of gout in regions with different SDIs were significantly higher in 2021 than in 1990, the differences were significant. From 1990 to 2021, the standardized incidence, prevalence and DALYs rates of gout in the world, China and the regions with different SDIs showed increasing trends. The prediction results showed that the standardized incidence rates of gout in the world and China would increase during 2022−2035, reaching 113.67/100 000 and 160.29/100 000 in 2035, respectively.

Conclusion The incidence, prevalence, and DALYs rates of gout showed increasing trends in the world, in China, and in the regions with different SDIs, resulting more severe disease burden nowdays and even om the furture. It is necessary to pay more close attention to the incidence and prevalence of gout and take more targeted prevention and control measures.