title: Prospective observational cohort study of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), chronic foot problems and their determinants in gout: a research protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gout is the commonest inflammatory arthritis affecting around 1.4% of adults in Europe. It is predominantly managed in primary care and classically affects the joints of the foot, particularly the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Gout related factors (including disease characteristics and treatment) as well as comorbid chronic disease are associated with poor Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) yet to date there is limited evidence concerning gout in a community setting. Existing epidemiological studies are limited by their cross-sectional design, selection of secondary care patients with atypical disease and the use of generic tools to measure HRQOL. This 3 year primary care-based prospective observational cohort study will describe the spectrum of HRQOL in community dwelling patients with gout, associated factors, predictors of poor outcome, and prevalence and incidence of foot problems in gout patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults aged  ≥ 18 years diagnosed with gout or prescribed colchicine or allopurinol in the preceding 2 years will be identified through Read codes and mailed a series of self-completion postal questionnaires over a 3-year period. Consenting participants will have their general practice medical records reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first prospective cohort study of HRQOL in patients with gout in primary care in the UK. The combination of survey data and medical record review will allow an in-depth understanding of factors that are associated with and lead to poor HRQOL and foot problems in gout. Identification of these factors will improve the management of this prevalent, yet under-treated, condition in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK. p.chandratre@keele.ac.uk
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandratre
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallen
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rome
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Rajvinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hider
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mayson
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Titley
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wathall
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zwierska
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roddy
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006073:Gout / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology