Gout, flares, and allopurinol use: a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited community data exists on gout flare prevalence and impact.
• Gout flares are often self-managed, leading to underreporting.
• Understanding community gout burden is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• Determine gout and gout flare prevalence in a community sample.
• Assess urate-lowering therapy (ULT) use, including allopurinol.
• Examine the association between gout flares and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2017 South Australian Health Omnibus Survey.
• Included 2778 participants aged 25+ with self-reported gout, allopurinol use, and flares.
• Weighted data to represent the South Australian population.

Main Results:

• Gout prevalence was 6.5%; 37.1% used allopurinol, with a 38% discontinuation rate.
• Frequent flares (≥2/year) affected 25% of gout patients, linked to younger age, higher BMI, and current allopurinol use.
• Flare frequency correlated with lower physical HRQoL; 51% of those with frequent flares used allopurinol.

Conclusions:

• Gout flares are prevalent in the community and negatively impact physical HRQoL.
• A significant proportion of patients with frequent flares are undertreated with allopurinol.
• Optimizing ULT and understanding flare predictors are key to improving gout management.