Biological age, gout risk and all-cause mortality in NHANES and UK Biobank
In NHANES and UK Biobank data, accelerated biological aging was associated with more prevalent and incident gout and with higher all-cause mortality among people with gout; these are associations, not proof of cause. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Biological aging was assessed with Klemera-Doubal method biological age and phenotypic age in NHANES and UK Biobank data. [1]
In NHANES, each 1-year increase in biological age advance was associated with a 4% higher gout risk. [1]
Among people with gout, accelerated biological aging was associated with a 21% to 134% increased risk of all-cause mortality. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional and prospective cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- Participants in NHANES and the UK Biobank, including individuals with gout.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 25, 2026
Biological age measured in two cohorts
The study combined a cross-sectional and a prospective cohort analysis using NHANES and UK Biobank data. Biological aging was measured with two tools: Klemera-Doubal method biological age (KDMAge) and phenotypic age (PhenoAge). In NHANES, gout cases were identified by self-reported physician diagnosis, and deaths were found through linkage with the National Death Index. In UK Biobank, gout cases were identified from inpatient records using ICD-10 code M10, and mortality data came from official National Health Service death registries.
Supporting source [1]
Higher gout risk per year of biological age
In NHANES, each 1-year increase in KDMAge or PhenoAge advance was associated with a 4% higher gout risk (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.05). In the UK Biobank cohort, accelerated biological aging predicted a higher risk of incident gout: hazard ratio 1.80 (95% CI 1.71-1.90) for KDMAge advance and 1.69 (95% CI 1.60-1.78) for PhenoAge advance. The abstract reports these as associations and predictions of risk, not as established causes of gout.
Supporting source [1]
Mortality among people with gout
Among individuals with gout, accelerated biological aging was associated with a 21% to 134% increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio range 1.21-2.34). The authors conclude that accelerated biological aging is significantly associated with greater gout prevalence, increased risk of incident gout and poorer survival among people with gout. The abstract does not report sample sizes, follow-up length or adjustment for confounders, and the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Sample sizes, follow-up duration and confounder adjustment are not reported here, and the findings are associations, not evidence that biological aging causes gout or death.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Zhao H, Xu Y, Gao Y, Liang R, Han J, Liu S, Wu R, Wu Z, Zhao J, Zhang L. · europepmc.org · September 25, 2026