Prepare now to prevent worse Gout in old age
Statistics say there has been an estimated doubling of gout frequency in the last 20 years in the US. Doctors are finding that- as a public health issue -Gout has become more difficult to manage as well. This is because of major changes in the Gout patient population as well as changes in their treatment.
As people begin to live longer, the pervasiveness of chronic kidney disease in the elderly is of special concern because under-performing kidneys make the management of both gouty inflammation and hyperuricemia much harder. Additionally, the largest upswing in recent US Gout cases has occured in patients approaching retirement age.
Recently, a study was presented at the American College of Rheumatology which showed that in hospitalized patients suffering from Gout attacks, well over half had notable kidney problems. The Study found:
According to Dr. Robert Terkeltaub of the University of California at San Diego, The principal factors underlying the increases in gout prevalence and clinical complexity in the United States in the last 2 decades include the following:
- Increased longevity of the population;
- Increased prevalence of hypertension;
- Increased use of diuretics and low-dose acetylsalicylic acid;
- Dietary trends and changes in alcohol consumption;
- Increased prevalence of obesity;
- Increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome;
- Increased prevalence of end-stage renal disease;
- Increased major organ transplantation and cyclosporine use;
- Increased survival in coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure; and
- Current limits in therapeutic options for management of hyperuricemia.
This is certainly interesting food for thought, and underscores the value of a commitment to overall health as a life-long goal. It seems the harm we do ourselves now may lead us to pay for years to come.
If we don’t take care of ourselves (and our kidneys) starting at a younger age, the extra years that modern medical science can now promise us may not be very enjoyable.
Read more:
Update on Gout and Other Crystal-Induced Arthritides [Medscape - subscription required]
