Gout medication still under-prescribed in the UK

Just one in three people with gout are prescribed preventative gout medication in the UK within a year of diagnosis say startling new figures in The Lancet Regional Health.

What is gout?

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in the UK, affecting one in 40 people. People with gout experience flares of severe joint pain and swelling, which can lead to joint damage and functional impairment if undertreated. Gout flares can, however, be stopped with highly effective and low-cost medications, such as allopurinol.

What does the new study show?

Historically, studies show only a minority of people with gout were started on these medications, leaving them at risk of ongoing flares. New data shows there has only been a modest improvement in the prescription of urate-lowering medications over the study period, from 27% of patients diagnosed in 2004, to 37% in 2019.

The findings suggest that the quality and success of gout care in the UK remain poor despite updated guidelines, says Dr Mark Russell who is involved in the work.

“Strategies are needed to encourage the prescription of preventative medications in people with gout. For example, educational programmes could help to raise awareness about the importance of medications such as allopurinol in the prevention of recurrent flares and disability due to gout”.

PS Did you know that Arthritis Digest Magazine is labelled the best UK Arthritis blog from thousands of blogs on the web ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness?