Epidemiology and clinical manifestation of GOUT in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Gout is an increasingly prevalent condition worldwide, creating a heavy economic burden. Acute gout can be effectively treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and recurrent episodes can be prevented with the uricostatic xanthine oxidase inhibitors. This study was conducted to determine the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of 100 patients with acute or chronic gout in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran. One-hundred patients with gout who referred to the Rheumatology Department were reviewed. Their demographic data, family and drug history, comorbide diseases, body mass index, symptoms and signs at the time of referral to our clinic and lab data were collected. Among patients, 84 were men and 16 women [mean age=55.8 years and mean Body Mass Index=26.1 kg/m[2]. Thirty three percent of the patients were smokers and 10% drank alcohol. Seventy cases had previous gout attack of whom, 56 were in the first metotarso-phalangeal joint. The mean serum uric acid was 8.5 mg/dl. In our study, the mean age and mean body mass index of the patients were similar to those in others studies. Alcohol consumption was low in our study. Hypertension was found to be a risk factor for gout