Validate primary care diagnosis of gout by the Mexico and the Netherlands classification criteria.
Questionnaires on gout characteristics were sent to all individuals aged ≥ 18 with ≥ 1 International Classification of Diseases, 10th ed. diagnosis of gout at 12 primary care centers.
Positive predictive values for gout diagnosis ranged from 71% for the Netherlands criteria to 80% for the Mexico criteria. Maximum inflammation within 24 h was the most common reported symptom (86%).
The vast majority of gout cases in primary care fulfill classification criteria and are valid for research purposes.