One hundred ten (51.6%) and 71 (33.3%) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, indicated having spoken with their
doctors about the ideal level of uric acid in the blood that should be
achieved after treatment for gout, compared with 21 (9.9%) and 11
(5.2%) patients who indicated that they had not had such a discussion
with a doctor (P=0.213).
One hundred (46.9%) and 58 (27.2%) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, indicated having discussed with their
doctors how to treat acute gout attacks, compared with 11 (5.2%) and 13
(6.1%) who had not had such discussions with their doctors (P=0.043).
Ninety-eight (46.0%) and 47 (22.1%) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, had spoken with their doctors about
medications that can lower the levels of uric acid in the blood,
compared with 33 (15.5%) and 35 (16.4%) who indicated not having had
such discussions with their doctors (P=0.049).
Thirty-five (16.4%) and 22 (10.3%) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, used analgesics and increased their fluid
intake to treat acute gout attacks, followed by 32 (15.0%) and 19
(8.9%) who indicated using colchicine and analgesics (P=0.731).
Ninety-four (44.1%) and 54 (25.4%) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, had discussions with their doctors about
how long they should continue taking treatment, compared with 15 (7.0%)
and 15 (7.0%) who had not had such discussions with their doctors
(P=0.354).
Ninety-eight (46.0%) and 47 (22.1%) patients in the uncontrolled and
controlled gout groups indicated having spoken with their doctors about
adopting healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating moderate amounts of
red meat, legumes, and shrimp to reduce the levels of uric acid in their
blood
(in addition to taking medication), compared with 33 (15.5%) and 35
(16.4%) who indicated not having had such discussions with their
doctors (P=0.048).
Thirty-five (16.4%) and 61 (28.6) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, had spoken with their doctors about
smoking cessation, compared with 63 (29.6%) and 54 (25.4%) who had not
spoken with their doctors about smoking cessation (P=0.563).
Forty-one (19.2%) and 50 (23.5%) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, spoke with their doctors about losing
weight and following a healthy lifestyle, compared with 61 (28.6) and 61
(28.6) who indicated not having had such discussions with their doctors
(P=0.754).
Thirty-two (15.0%) and 43 (20.2%) patients with uncontrolled and
controlled gout, respectively, considered minimizing their consumption
of red meat as a lifestyle measure to control gout, compared with 22
(10.3%) and 23 (10.8%) who indicated considered increasing fluid
intake and decreasing seafood consumption (P=0.375) (Table 4).Table 4. Medical Education and Lifestyle Programs