Objective To investigate the prevalence of gout and its associated factors in populations in Beijing. Methods A cross-sectional study of gout was carried out in state-employees who had yearly health examination at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing,China from September to December 2005. The prevalence of gout was calculated in the population. Data were further analyzed by multivariate logistic regression models to find associated factors of gout. Results The prevalence of gout in the population was 1.0%,and were 1.5% and 0.3% for men and women respectively. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis found that male gender (OR 15.07,95%CI 1.79～127.19),hard liquor (OR 4.93,95%CI 1.41～17.31 for ≥7 beverages per week),diuretics (OR 6.72,95%CI 2.34～19.34),waist obesity (OR 4.38,95%CI 1.33～14.43),and hypercholesterolemia (OR 3.63,95%CI 1.23～10.67 for serum cholesterol 5.17～6.21mmol/L) were associated with increased prevalence of gout,whereas products of bean curd (OR 0.21,95%CI 0.07～0.59) were associated with reduced prevalence of gout. Conclusion Male gender,hard liquor,diuretics,waist obesity and hyperchol-esterolemia may be associated with the increased risk of gout,whereas products of bean curd may be associated with the reduced risk of gout.