Patients With Chronic Refractory Gout Report Significant Impact on Quality of Life

Chronic refractory gout significantly impacts patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL), primarily due to frequent and debilitating gout flares, investigators reported in Rheumatology and Therapy.

Researchers aimed to explore the symptoms and everyday challenges faced by these patients, and to assess whether two commonly used HRQoL instruments, the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), are suitable for evaluating these impacts.

A targeted literature review was conducted to identify key studies that describe the symptoms and effects of gout on HRQoL. Additionally, qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 patients suffering from chronic refractory gout. The data gathered from these interviews were used to develop a conceptual model to assess the appropriateness of using the SF-36 and HAQ-DI for this patient population.

The most frequently reported symptoms included bodily pain (90%), joint swelling (90%), joint tenderness (90%), and joint pain (80%). Major impacts on daily life were reported, such as difficulty climbing stairs (100%), performing household chores (95%), and running errands (95%). All items from the SF-36 and HAQ-DI were reported by at least 25% of participants and adequately reflected the patient-reported symptoms and impacts.

The SF-36 and HAQ-DI effectively capture the key symptoms and challenges faced by these patients, making them suitable tools for assessing HRQoL in this population, the investigators reported, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to alleviate the significant pain and disability associated with chronic refractory gout.

Reference

Strand V, Pillinger MH, Oladapo A, Yousefian C, Brooks D, Kragh N. Patient experience with chronic refractory gout and its impact on health-related quality of life: literature review and qualitative analysis. Rheumatology and Therapy. Published online August 5, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40744-024-00697-8