My late husband had kidney functioning just above 50%. His kidney doctor said he would have to start dialysis?

when it fell under 50%. If people don't need dialysis with 30% functioning, why would he need it at 49%? Also, he kept getting gout. Gout didn't run in his family and he ate none of the foods that can bring it on. He also didn't drink alcohol. (He died a year later from a heart arrhythmia.) Is gout related to kidney functioning?