Epidemiologic Study Findings Show 27 Percent Increase in Emergency Department Visits for Gout in the United States Over the ...
June 14 2018 - 4:50AM
Results from a new study presented in an oral presentation at the
Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) show a
dramatic 27 percent increase in emergency department (ED) visits
between 2006 and 2014 for people living with gout in the United
States. Horizon Pharma provided research support and funding
for this study.
"The dramatic increase in ED visits in the United States for
patients with a primary diagnosis of gout over the past nine years
reflects a sizeable and growing population of patients with gout
whose symptoms are not controlled and not well managed,” said
Gurkirpal Singh, M.D., lead study investigator and adjunct clinical
professor of medicine at Stanford University. "Often the
treatment of gout focuses on alleviating the symptoms of painful
gout flares. However, when escalating symptoms reach the
threshold of an ED visit, this suggests that the underlying
accumulation of uric acid may not have been adequately
addressed.”
Gout is a chronic, progressive inflammatory form of arthritis
that is caused by excess uric acid in the body and needs to be
managed aggressively.i If uric acid levels in the blood
remain elevated, thin rod-like crystals can form and deposit in the
joints, which can lead to severe pain, tenderness, stiffness,
swelling and joint damage. In addition to the joint damage,
urate crystals can also deposit in other organs of the body,ii and
if left unmanaged, gout can lead to significant tissue
damage.iii
The study Emergency Department Visits for Gout: A Dramatic
Increase in the Past Decade (abstract OP0185), evaluated data from
the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Dr. Singh
and colleagues studied all ED visits with a primary diagnosis of
gout from 2006 to 2014 and calculated the prevalence of gout in
different age groups using population data from the U.S. Census
Bureau. NEDS, which yields national estimates of
hospital-based ED visits, is the largest all-payer ED database in
the United States, containing information from 31 million ED visits
at 945 hospitals in 34 states. The study demonstrated that
the total number of ED visits per year among patients with a
primary diagnosis of acute gout increased 26.8 percent between 2006
and 2014 – from 168,580 to 213,780.
Additional results showed that, over the nine-year period:
- 1.7 million people visited EDs with a primary diagnosis of
acute gout.
- The prevalence of ED visits with a primary diagnosis of gout
increased from 56.5/100,000 population in 2006 to 67/100,000 in
2014 (p<0.001).
- The largest increase in the prevalence of ED visits occurred
among people ages 45 to 64 years – a 28 percent increase from
91/100,000 in 2006 to 116/100,000 in 2014 (p<0.001).
- Men accounted for 78 percent of the ED visits in both 2006 and
2014.
About Horizon Pharma plc Horizon
Pharma plc is focused on researching, developing and
commercializing innovative medicines that address unmet treatment
needs for rare and rheumatic diseases. By fostering a growing
pipeline of medicines in development and exploring all potential
uses for currently marketed medicines, we strive to make a powerful
difference for patients, their caregivers and physicians. For
us, it’s personal: by living up to our own potential, we are
helping others live up to theirs. For more information,
please visit www.horizonpharma.com.
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Contacts:Tina VenturaSenior Vice President,
Investor RelationsInvestor-relations@horizonpharma.com
Ruth VenningExecutive Director, Investor
RelationsInvestor-relations@horizonpharma.com
U.S. Media Contact:Amanda PhranerSenior
Manager, Public Relations and Social
Mediamedia@horizonpharma.com
Ireland Media Contact: Ray Gordon Gordon
MRM ray@gordonmrm.ie
Source: Horizon Pharma plc
i Keuhn, B. Chronic Disease Approaches Needed to Curb Gout’s
Growing Burden. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2018;
319(13):1308-1309.
ii Park J, Roudier M, Soman D, Mokada N, Simin P. Prevalence of
birefringent crystals in cardiac and prostatic tissues, an
observational study. BJM Open. 2014; 4:e005308.
doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005308
iii Edwards NL. Treatment-failure gout: a moving target.
Arthritis Rheum. 2008;58(9):2587-2590.
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