Bowen-Davies Z, et al. - In this cross-sectional study, researchers investigated the relationship between gout severity and socioeconomic status (SES) and gout severity and work absence. For this investigation, postal questionnaires were sent to adult patients registered with 20 general practices who had gout consultations or who were prescribed allopurinol or colchicine in the preceding 2 years. The severity of gout was linked to individual deprivation, countering the historical and negative perception of gout as a "rich man's disease." The association of gout severity with lack of work strengthens the argument for earlier urate-lowering therapy to prevent attacks from becoming frequent and debilitating.