Epidemiology and treatment-related concerns of gout and hyperuricemia in Korean
1Divison of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Gout and hyperuricemia are increasing in Korea, posing risks for comorbidities and economic burden. This review examines Korean epidemiological data and treatment challenges to improve gout management and reduce patient costs.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis, primarily affecting middle-aged men.
- Hyperuricemia is strongly linked to gout risk, with increasing global and Korean prevalence.
- Gout and hyperuricemia are associated with various comorbidities, though causal links remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review epidemiological studies on gout and hyperuricemia in Korea.
- To address treatment-related challenges in the Korean population.
- To identify strategies for optimizing clinical outcomes and reducing the medical burden of gout.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological studies on gout and hyperuricemia in Korea.
- Analysis of treatment patterns and challenges.
- Synthesis of data to inform clinical practice and policy.
Main Results:
- Gout and hyperuricemia prevalence is rising in Korea, increasing comorbidity risks.
- Significant economic burden associated with hyperuricemia, gout attacks, and suboptimal treatment.
- Despite available urate-lowering drugs, gout management remains suboptimal worldwide.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of gout and hyperuricemia in Korea requires addressing epidemiological trends and treatment gaps.
- Improving clinical outcomes and reducing the economic burden necessitates enhanced patient education and treatment adherence.
- Further research is needed to clarify causal relationships between gout and associated comorbidities.
Abstract:
Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis that affects mainly middle-aged men, and there is clear evidence of an association between hyperuricemia and the risk for gout. Increasing prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia has been reported in many countries. The prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia are constantly increasing in Korea with the patients at risk for developing a variety of comorbidities. Although there have been studies on the association between gout or serum uric acid level and several neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality, the causal relationship between gout and these comorbidities are still unclear. The associations of substantial economic burden with hyperuricemia, gout attack, and suboptimal treatment are well known. Gout is a disease that requires lifelong management including lifestyle modification. However, gout is poorly managed worldwide although effective urate-lowering drugs exist. In this review, we addressed epidemiological studies and treatment-related problems in the Korean population with gout or hyperuricemia to obtain the best clinical outcomes and reduce their medical burden.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
01:24Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:30Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
01:28Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
01:28Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management