Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

A Single-Channel and Non-Invasive Wearable Brain-Computer Interface for Industry and Healthcare
06:34

A Single-Channel and Non-Invasive Wearable Brain-Computer Interface for Industry and Healthcare

Published on: July 7, 2023

3.2K

Prescribing patterns and healthcare costs of gout

Yi-Yun Lee1,2, Li-Na Kuo1,2, Jin-Hua Chen3

  • 1a Department of Pharmacy , College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.

Current Medical Research and Opinion
|November 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Frequent gout flares significantly increase healthcare utilization and costs. Patients experiencing three or more flares annually incurred higher medical expenses and utilized more healthcare services compared to those with fewer flares.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Health Economics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent flares.
  • Understanding the economic and healthcare burden of frequent gout flares is crucial for resource allocation and patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between frequent gout flares and healthcare utilization and costs.
  • To identify common treatment patterns for gout flares.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) 2010.
  • Identified gout cases and categorized patients based on flare frequency (≥3 flares/year).
  • Compared healthcare utilization and costs between frequent and infrequent flare groups.

Main Results:

  • 16.7% of 21,376 gout patients experienced frequent flares.
  • Frequent flare patients had significantly higher all-cause (35.9 vs. 30.7 visits) and gout-related (22.7 vs. 15.6 visits) healthcare utilization.
  • Median gout-related costs were higher in frequent flare patients (USD $369 vs. $285).
  • Colchicine + NSAIDs were used in over 55.8% of flares.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with frequent gout flares exhibit substantially higher healthcare utilization and associated costs.
  • Frequent flares represent a significant economic burden in gout management.
  • Combination therapy with colchicine and NSAIDs is a prevalent treatment strategy for gout flares.
Abstract

Keywords:
GoutTaiwancostsprescribing patterns

More Related Videos

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease07:10

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: August 24, 2019

10.5K
A Low Cost Setup for Behavioral Audiometry in Rodents09:23

A Low Cost Setup for Behavioral Audiometry in Rodents

Published on: October 16, 2012

13.2K

Related Concept Videos

Healthcare Agencies II01:17

Healthcare Agencies II

There are various healthcare agencies in the United States—some of which are managed by religious institutions and others by different government branches.
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...
1.1K
Secondary Healthcare System01:11

Secondary Healthcare System

Secondary healthcare is offered by a specialist, generally in hospitals or clinics for patients referred by primary healthcare providers. It occurs when a person has an illness or injury that requires specific medical care. Secondary care is often referred to as acute care. Secondary care can range from uncomplicated care to repair a minor laceration or treat a strep throat infection to more complicated emergent care, such as treating a head injury sustained in an automobile accident. Whatever...
2.1K
Tertiary Healthcare System01:21

Tertiary Healthcare System

Specialized care provided over an extended period is called tertiary care. Usually, a primary or secondary care physician will refer a patient to tertiary care. A patient's maximum physical and mental function is restored in tertiary care, which is caused due to the impact of a chronic illness or condition. Tertiary care aims to achieve the highest level of functioning possible while managing chronic illness. For example, a patient who falls and fractures their hip will need secondary care...
2.2K
Healthcare Agencies I01:18

Healthcare Agencies I

Healthcare agencies provide healthcare services to people. In the United States, voluntary agencies are often non-profit centers sponsored by donations, grants, or fundraisers. One such organization is Meals on Wheels, which provides meals to the elderly and homebound. The American Heart Association and the American Lung Association are other non-profit community organizations. Doctors and nurses are frequently active members of these organizations, which offer health checks and educational...
1.2K
Integrated Healthcare System01:20

Integrated Healthcare System

An integrated healthcare system (IHS) is a set of organizations that provides for or arranges to provide coordinated and continuous service to a defined population. The IHS takes responsibility for that particular population's health status and outcome, both clinically and fiscally. An integrated healthcare system is a well-organized, well-coordinated, and collaborative network. The integrated delivery system is a network that connects different healthcare providers to deliver organized,...
2.4K
Primary Healthcare Services01:30

Primary Healthcare Services

Primary care promotes wellness and prevents disease. This care includes health promotion, education, protection (such as immunizations), early disease screening, and environmental considerations. Settings providing this type of healthcare include physician offices, public health clinics, school nursing, and community health nursing.
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
2.1K