Doctors in Guangdong province are urging people to adopt healthier eating and exercise habits to control uric acid levels, as the coastal region records a significant number of gout patients.

Hyperuricemia, or abnormally high levels of uric acid in the blood, causes gout. Adults with hyperuricemia made up 14 percent of China's population in a chronic disease monitoring survey conducted between 2018 and 2019, compared with 1.4 percent in 1980, said Li Tianwang, professor and director of the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital.

The prevalence was about 20 percent in Guangdong, with some cities reporting rates much higher than the provincial average.

The problem is more prevalent in coastal areas due to higher seafood consumption, though gout is not uncommon in many inland areas either, Li added.

"Gout, an ancient disease, is related to wealthy lifestyles — the richer the food, the higher the possibility of developing the condition," he said.

Insufficient physical activity and the growing popularity of red meat, alcohol — especially beer — sugary drinks such as milk tea and carbohydrate-heavy foods such as ice cream are also contributing factors to prevalence rates.

In Guangdong specifically, the culinary tradition of boiling meat soups for long hours produces large amounts of purine, which can raise uric acid levels, doctors said.

Just 15 years ago, gout patients were rare in Li's department. Today, they make up the majority of cases, including teenagers and women.

"The situation is worrying despite constant efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle," said Huang Jianlin, director of the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

Gout can be managed easily if uric acid is controlled in time, Huang said. However, repeated attacks can lead to chronic disease and the formation of tophi — swollen lumps or growths — which damage joints. Hyperuricemia may also increase the risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease and kidney damage.

Uric acid is necessary for the human body when kept within a healthy range, Li said, adding that improved medical services have enabled earlier detection of hyperuricemia and gout.