Seasonality of gout in Korea: a multicenter study.
The object of this study was to evaluate the seasonality of gout in Korea. We retrospectively examined data from 330 patients seen at nine rheumatology clinics, treated with urate lowering therapy (ULT) more than one year after stopping prophylactic medication. Demographic data, clinical and laboratory features, and seasonality of gout onset and flares were collected. Season was classified in three-month intervals. The mean age was 52.2 yr and mean disease duration was 26.8 months. The male to female count was 318:12. The onset of acute gouty attacks was obtained in 256 patients. Gout developed most commonly in summer season (36.7%) (P<0.001) and in June (15.6%, P=0.002). During ULT, there were 147 (male 97.3%) gout flares. Although there was no statistically significant difference, gout flares were more common in summer (30.6%). Aggravating factors were identified in 57 flares: alcohol (72.0%) was most common. In the patients who attained target serum uric acid (<6 mg/dL) at the end of prophylaxis, gout flares were high in fall (35.8%) and September (17.0%). In Korea, the summer is most common season of gout onset and there is a tendency for gout flares to increase during ULT in summer/fall season.
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Hyo Jin
0000-0001-5192-6151
HJ
Choi
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, NHIS Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
Chan Hee
0000-0001-5942-9029
CH
Lee
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
Joo Hyun
0000-0003-4549-6284
JH
Lee
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
Bo Young
0000-0002-9635-4799
BY
Yoon
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Hyoun Ah
0000-0003-2609-3367
HA
Kim
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Chang Hee
0000-0001-6156-393X
CH
Suh
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Choong Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Sang Tae
0000-0002-2074-1733
ST
Choi
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Choong Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jung Soo
0000-0001-8651-5125
JS
Song
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
HoYeon
0000-0002-7648-5310
H
Joo
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
Sung Jae
0000-0002-0717-1203
SJ
Choi
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Ji Soo
0000-0001-6279-7025
JS
Lee
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
KiChul
0000-0002-6749-7598
K
Shin
Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea.
Jae-Bum
0000-0002-0208-0505
JB
Jun
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Han Joo
0000-0001-7558-052X
HJ
Baek
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015210:Arthritis, Gouty / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011507:Proteinuria; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D000067251:Symptom Flare Up; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D006074:Gout Suppressants; D008055:Lipids; D014527:Uric Acid
Flares; Gout Onset; Korea; Seasonality; Summer