Gout in the UK and Germany: prevalence, comorbidities and management in general practice 2000-2005.
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 micromol/l (<6 mg/dl), odds ratios for a gout flare were 1.33 and 1.37 at sUA 360-420 micromol/l (6-7 mg/dl), and 2.15 and 2.48 at sUA >530 micromol/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 >or=360 micromol/l (>or=6 mg/dl) had an increased risk of gout flares.
Annemans
L
L
Ghent University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Ghent, Belgium. Lieven.Annemans@UGent.be
Spaepen
E
E
Gaskin
M
M
Bonnemaire
M
M
Malier
V
V
Gilbert
T
T
Nuki
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006073:Gout / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D006074:Gout Suppressants; D014527:Uric Acid; D000493:Allopurinol