Information For Healthcare Professionals
What Are Gout Patients Saying?

You may see your patients when their gout flares up or discuss recent flares during a regularly-scheduled appointment, but how does gout affect their lives between physician appointments?

Here are some of the results from a quiz designed to measure the impact of gout on patients’ day-to-day lives.

Which patients are seeking information about treating and managing gout at Gout.com? Here is some of the information patients have shared about themselves, and their experiences with gout.

Are you treating your gout with prescription medication?

  •   Yes - 48%
  •   No, I just learned about my gout - 33%
  •   No - 19%

How long have you known you have gout?

  •   Less than 1 month - 34%
  •   1 — 3 months - 10%
  •   4 — 11 months - 9%
  •   1 — 5 years - 25%
  •   More than five years - 23%

Has your physician measured the level of uric acid in your blood (“serum uric acid”)?

  •   Yes - 60%
  •   No - 40%

Which role best describes the reason you came to this site?

  •   I have been diagnosed with gout by my doctor - 0%
  •   I have not been diagnosed by a doctor, but I think I may have gout - 35%
  •   I have a friend or family member who has or may have gout - 19%
  •   I am here for another reason - 3%

What is your current level of uric acid in your blood (serum uric acid, or “sUA”)?

  •   Less than 6 mg/dL - 10%
  •   Around 6 mg/dL - 5%
  •   More than 6 mg/dL - 30%
  •   Don’t know - 0%

Do you have medicine that you take whenever you experience a flare?

  •   Yes - 56%
  •   No - 44%

Do you take medicine all the time that is designed to help you prevent gout flares?

  •   Yes - 39%
  •   No - 61%

Does your gout cause you embarrassment?

  •   Yes, often - 35%
  •   Yes, sometimes - 29%
  •   No - 36%

How did you first figure out that your symptoms meant you might have gout?

  •   My doctor told me - 58%
  •   Talking with a friend or family member - 20%
  •   Looking on the Internet - 15%
  •   Other - 5%
  •   Don’t remember - 1%

How long ago was your most recent flare?

  •   I’m having one right now - 0%
  •   Not now, but less than a month ago - 8%
  •   2 to 6 months ago - 3%
  •   7 or more months ago - 3%

Does your gout affect your work?

  •   Yes, I sometimes can't work - 51%
  •   No, I get through it somehow - 20%
  •   No, I’m retired - 11%
  •   I’m not sure, gout is new to me - 17%

Has your gout brought you the worst pain of your life?

  •   Yes - 83%
  •   No - 17%