Patients with gout are at a significantly greater risk of having a total joint replacement, according to a study in Rheumatology.
Here are four things to know:
1. Researchers conducted the population-based study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance database and the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink. The study comprised 74,560 Taiwanese gout patients and 34,505 U.K. gout patients.
2. The TJR prevalence rates at the time of diagnosis were:
- Taiwan: 1.16 percent in gout patients, 0.82 percent in patients without gout
- U.K.: 2.61 percent in gout patients, 1.76 percent in patients without gout
3. After a gout diagnosis, the TJR incidence was higher in gout patients compared with patients who did not have gout in both nations.
4. Current urate-lowering treatment did not reduce the risk of TJR.