Gout during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: increased flares, urate levels and functional improvement.
Clin Rheumatol
; 41(3): 811-818, 2022 Mar.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1530329
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis, but was not considered in most COVID-19 and rheumatic diseases reports. Our aim was to describe changes in clinical data, treatment, function and quality of life for gout patients during COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS:
Prospective, descriptive and analytical study of 101 consecutive gout (ACR/EULAR 2015) patients from our clinic evaluated during pandemic by phone call (n=52) or phone call + face-to-face (n=68) that accepted to participate. Variables are demographics, clinical and treatment data, HAQ, EQ5D questionnaires and COVID-19-related data. Patients were divided in two groups flare (n=36) or intercritical gout (n=65) also; available pre-pandemic data was obtained from 71 patients. Statistical analyses are X2, paired t-test and Wilcoxon test.RESULTS:
Included gout patients were males (95.8%), mean (SD) age 54.7 (10.7) years and disease duration 16.4 (9.8) years; 90% received allopurinol, 50% colchicine as prophylaxis and 25% suspended ≥ 1 medication. Comparison of pre-pandemic vs pandemic data showed > flares (4.4% vs 36%, p=0.01), more flares in the last 6 months 0.31 (0.75) vs 1.71 (3.1), (p=0.004 and > urate levels 5.6 (1.7)vs 6.7 (2.2) mg/dL, p=0.016. Unexpectedly, function and quality-of-life scores improved HAQ score 0.65 (2.16) vs 0.12 (0.17), p= 0.001. Seven patients were COVID-19-confirmed cases; they had significantly more flares, higher urate levels and lower allopurinol doses and two died.CONCLUSIONS:
In gout patients, flares were 9 times more frequent during pandemic also, they had increased urate levels but led to an unexpected improvement in HAQ and functionality scores. Resilience and lifestyle changes in gout during COVID-19 pandemic require further studies. Key Points ⢠COVID-19 pandemic is associated with 4 times more flares in gout patients. ⢠Increased flares were also seen in previously well-controlled gout patients. ⢠Increased serum urate levels were also found in gout patients during pandemic. ⢠In our gout clinic, 8/101 patients were diagnosed as COVID-19+, and two of them died.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Gout
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Clin Rheumatol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10067-021-05994-z
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