Gout in the UK and Germany: prevalence, comorbidities and management in general practice 2000-2005

Abstract

Objective:To investigate and compare the prevalence, comorbidities and management of gout in practice in the UK and Germany.Methods:A retrospective analysis of patients with gout, identified through the records of 2.5 million patients in UK general practices and 2.4 million patients attending GPs or internists in Germany, using the IMS Disease Analyzer.Results:The prevalence of gout was 1.4% in the UK and Germany. Obesity was the most common comorbidity in the UK (27.7%), but in Germany the most common comorbidity was diabetes (25.9%). The prevalence of comorbidities tended to increase with serum uric acid (sUA) levels. There was a positive correlation between sUA level and the frequency of gout flares. Compared with those in whom sUA was <360 μmol/l (<6 mg/dl), odds ratios for a gout flare were 1.33 and 1.37 at sUA 360–420 μmol/l (6–7 mg/dl), and 2.15 and 2.48 at sUA >530 μmol/l ( >9 mg/dl) in the UK and Germany, respectively (p<0.01).Conclusions:The prevalence of gout in practice in the UK and Germany in the years 2000–5 was 1.4%, consistent with previous UK data for 1990–9. Chronic comorbidities were common among patients with gout and included conditions associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The importance of regular monitoring of sUA in order to tailor gout treatment was highlighted by data from this study showing that patients with sUA levels ⩾360 μmol/l (⩾6 mg/dl) had an increased risk of gout flares.

Prevalence of Gout in the Adult Population of France

“…As compared with results in the UK, which found significant differences by living area (4), we found no significant difference in prevalence across areas of France. Our overall prevalence estimate was of the same order as that reported for Italy (3) but lower than that reported for other European countries (4,(16)(17)(18), the US (2), and countries in Asia and the Pacific (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

Prevalence and associations of gout and hyperuricaemia: results from an Australian population‐based study

“…7 It is higher than longitudinal databases of selected populations in the UK (1.4%), US (3.9%) and Italy (0.91%). 10,11,13 The only comparable Australian study is a 2002 Indigenous Australian study 18 , for which self-reported gout was confirmed by clinical examination and investigation, which found an overall prevalence of 3.8% (males 9%, females 0.7%). From a participant self-reported population survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (1997Statistics ( -1999, the prevalence of gout was 1.7%.…”

“…11 Obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and chronic renal failure have consistently been identified to be increased in the gout population. 8,10,11,12,13 The association of diabetes mellitus and a current smoking history are less well defined with some studies finding them to be less prevalent in people with gout. 2,10,12 To date health related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been extensively assessed in gout trials.…”

“…8,10,11,12,13 The association of diabetes mellitus and a current smoking history are less well defined with some studies finding them to be less prevalent in people with gout. 2,10,12 To date health related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been extensively assessed in gout trials. One study found that after adjusting for potential medical and sociodemographic confounders gout was an independent predictor for lower quality of life and functional outcomes.…”

“…9 In the UK and Europe the prevalence of gout is considerably lower; a retrospective analysis of general practitioner records from 2000-2005 revealed a gout prevalence of only 1.4%. 10 Similarly an Italian 2005-2009 primary care database revealed a gout and hyperuricaemia prevalence of only 0.9% and 11.9% respectively. 11 Obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and chronic renal failure have consistently been identified to be increased in the gout population.…”