Background:Gout shows a seasonal variation that widely differs among geographic areas, and we previously reported a seasonal effect on gout in Korea. However, we had no information regarding changes in diet and had only limited laboratory data because this was a retrospective study in patients receiving a urate-lowering therapy. Therefore, we designed this prospective study to elucidate the seasonality and associated factors of gout attacks in Korea.Objectives:To evaluate the seasonality and associated factors of the incidence of gout attacks in Korea.Methods:We prospectively enrolled patients with gout attacks who were treated at nine rheumatology clinics between January 2015 and July 2018 and followed them for 1-year. Demographic data, clinical and laboratory features, and meteorological data including seasonality were collected.Results:Two hundred-five patients (males, 94.1%) were enrolled. The proportion of patients with initial gout attacks was 46.8% (n = 96). The mean age, body mass index, attack duration, and serum uric acid level at enrollment were 50.5 years, 26.1, 10.2 days, and 7.3 mg/dL, respectively. Gout attacks were most common during spring (43.4%,P< 0.001) and in March (23.4 %,P< 0.001). A similar pattern of seasonality was observed in the group with initial gout attacks. Alcohol was the most common provoking factor (39.0%), particularly during summer (50.0%). The mean diurnal temperature change on the day of the attack was highest in the spring (10.3°C), followed by winter (9.1°C), summer (8.1°C), and fall (8.0°C) (P= 0.027). The mean change in humidity between the 2 consecutive days (the day before and the day of the attack) was significantly different among the seasons (3.4%, spring; 0.2%, summer; 0.4%, fall; -3.9%, winter;P= 0.015). One hundred twenty-five (61%) patients completed 1-year follow-up (51% in the initial attack group). During the follow-up period, 51 gout flares developed (18 in the initial attack group). No significant seasonal variation in the follow-up flares was found.Conclusion:In this prospective study, the most common season and month of gout attacks in Korea were spring and March, respectively. Alcohol was the most common provoking factor, particularly during summer. Diurnal temperature changes on the day of the attack and humidity changes from the day before the attack to the day of the attack were associated with gout attack in our cohort.References:[1]Choi HJ, Lee CH, Lee JH et al. Seasonality of gout in Korea: a multicenter study. J Korean Med Sci 2015;30:240-4.Disclosure of Interests: :None declared
