title: Chronic gout in the elderly.
abstract: Gout is the most common cause of inflammatory arthritis in men over 40 years old; it is a debilitating disease and, if untreated, can result in a chronic progressive disease, including tophaceous gout. In the elderly it represents a special issue, with notable clinical and therapeutic differences from the classical form with a systemic involvement. The burden of the disease increases particularly in the very old people, in whom arthritis, impaired gait and eyesight problems may enhance the related disability. Chronic gout moreover could aggravate heart and kidney disease and increase overall mortality and organ-related damage. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important goals for the clinician that should to rely on the cooperation of specialists working together through the methodology of comprehensive geriatric assessment. The aim of the present review was to analyze chronic gout in old people in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical approach, and current treatment.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Division, Department of Medicine, DIMED, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolzetta
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veronese
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manzato
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sergi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006073:Gout / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000150:complications; D008019:Life Style; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006074:Gout Suppressants