When people reach middle age, it seems that more and more people are suffering from pain. The prevalence of pain in Hong Kong has been increasing over the past 10 years. For example, the prevalence of pain in 2016 was 2.9%, which is similar to that in Western development countries. Among the adult population in the United States, the prevalence rate is about 4%, mainly affecting men in the 30s to 50s. Today, it has become the most common crystal kinesthetic disease.
急性痛風性關節炎是指在軟組織和關節中，存在尿酸單鈉(MSU)晶體(亦即尿酸)所引起關節炎。通常最先影響第一蹠趾(MTP)關節。如能早期識別和診斷該疾病及提供適當的措施，能夠減少關節破壞和肌腱斷裂。以極化顯微鏡下從關節液抽吸物中鑑定負雙折射MSU晶體，仍被認為是診斷痛風的「黃金標準」。然而，這診斷方法帶有入侵性，並非每個人也適合；如本身關節液不足，已不可行。
雙能量電腦掃描(DECT)是痛風性關節炎嶄新的斷診發展。由於此方法屬非侵入性，近年來它的使用日益廣泛。DECT能在關節被破壞前檢測及量化尿酸鹽晶體，有助臨床醫生早期診斷及跟進。相反，傳統的X光要在關節被破壞後才能看到骨骼的轉變。雙能量電腦掃描也能診斷尿酸鹽結石引起的腎絞痛，可助醫生找出更多問題，盡早控制。
當然，最好是防範於未然。健康的生活及養成每天運動的習慣非常重要，素食及低嘌呤飲食絕對有助避免痛風。