Abstract

Prevalence and predictors of gout in lagos: a community based study

Author(s): Ohagwu Kenneth Arinze, Kenneth Arinze Ohagwu, Olufemi Oladipo Adelowo, Innocent Ijezie Chukwuonye

Background: Gout is an inflammatory disease caused by reversible deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and other tissues. There is dearth of data regarding the prevalence of gout in Nigeria, necessitating this study.

Methods: The study was a descriptive cross – sectional study aimed at determining the prevalence and predictors of gout at Agbowa, a semi – urban community in Lagos state. The community was randomly selected. Four hundred adults aged 18year and above, were involved in the study.Questionnaires were used to obtain relevant information from the subjects. Anthropometric measurements were taken and body mass index calculated. Blood samples were collected for relevant investigations.

Results: One hundred and seventy nine (179) males and 221 females participated in the study giving male: female ratio of 1:1.2. Mean age of the participants was 46.5±16.0 years. One hundred and eleven subjects (27.8%) had associated joint pain, mostly involving the lower back and the knees. The prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia was 2.25% and 21.5% respectively. Male gender, increasing age, diuretic use, alcohol consumption, low dose aspirin, hypertension, serum uric acid, high serum triglycerides and decreased glomerular filtration rate were factors associated with gout on bivariate logistic regression.

Conclusion: Gout prevalence is low in the community, however the prevalence hyperuricemia is high, and about one person in every five persons in the community has hyperuriceamia.