Study suggests opposite trends in hospitalisation for rheumatoid arthritis and gout
A new study suggests that while hospitalisation admissions relating to rheumatoid arthritis have dropped in the past two decades, they have increased for people suffering from gout.
The study, published in JAMA, is said to reflect better management of rheumatoid arthritis patients at the same time as an increased prevalence and suboptimal care of gout.
“Our findings provide a remarkably encouraging benchmark for the improvement in rheumatoid arthritis care in recent years,” says Dr Hyon K Choi of the MGH Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology and lead author of the study. “However, they also highlight the critical need to improve gout management in the US and beyond.”
For the study, Dr Choi and is colleagues gathered data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample compiled by the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, covering the years from 1993 – 2011. The research included investigating overall rates of hospitalisation, and rates of surgery relating to either condition and found that the rate of hospitalisation for rheumatoid arthritis dropped by 67% – from 13.9 to 4.6 per 100,000 in the US population – while the rate of gout doubled from 4.4 to 8.8 per 100,000. Surgical hospitalisation for rheumatoid arthritis dropped during the same period while it remained practically unchanged for people with gout.
Dr Choi says that widespread use of effective medication for rheumatoid arthritis, along with better management and earlier treatment had all contributed to this shift, whereas Western lifestyle factors including diet, alcohol and obesity had all contributed to the increased frequency of gout, which now affects more than 8 million in the US.
For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products.
