Healthcare-related impact of gout in hospitalized patients in Spain

Diego Benavent,Alejandro Balsa,María Ángeles Martinez-Huedo,Diana Peiteado,María Hernandez-Hurtado,Eugenio De Miguel

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-92673-3

Diego Benavent, Alejandro Balsa + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92673-3

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Abstract

To analyze the epidemiology, clinical features and costs of hospitalized patients with gout during the last decade in Spain. Retrospective observational study based on data from the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) from the Spanish National Health Service database. Patients ≥ 18 years with any gout diagnosis at discharge who had been admitted to public or private hospitals between 2005 and 2015 were included. Patients were divided in two periods: p1 (2005–2010) and p2 (2011–2015) to compare the number of hospitalizations, mean costs and mortality rates. Data from 192,037 patients with gout was analyzed. There was an increase in the number of hospitalized patients with gout (p < 0.001). The more frequent comorbidities were diabetes (27.6% of patients), kidney disease (26.6%) and heart failure (19.3%). Liver disease (OR 2.61), dementia (OR 2.13), cerebrovascular diseases (OR 1.57), heart failure (OR 1.41), and kidney disease (OR 1.34) were associated with a higher mortality risk. Women had a lower risk of mortality than men (OR 0.85). General mortality rates in these hospitalized patients progressively increased over the years (p < 0.001). In addition, costs gradually rose, presenting a significant increase in p2 even after adjusting for inflation (p = 0.001). A progressive increase in hospitalizations, mortality rates and cost in hospitalized patients with gout was observed. This harmful trend in a preventable illness highlights the need for change and the search for new healthcare strategies.

Highlights

To analyze the epidemiology, clinical features and costs of hospitalized patients with gout during the last decade in Spain
It is caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals within the joints and other tissues[1], producing attacks with significant pain, with increasing evidence linking it to subclinical inflammation, cardiovascular risk and associated c omorbidities[2,3,4]
Retrospective observational study based on data from the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) from the Spanish National Health Service database, which includes hospitalizations in the Spanish population

Summary

Introduction

Clinical features and costs of hospitalized patients with gout during the last decade in Spain. Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that leads to substantial morbidities and impairs patients’ quality of life It is caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals within the joints and other tissues[1], producing attacks with significant pain, with increasing evidence linking it to subclinical inflammation, cardiovascular risk and associated c omorbidities[2,3,4]. The prevalence of gout in the UK in 1991 had increased threefold compared with estimates from the 1970s7, and similar trends were confirmed in several more recent studies in other n ations[8,9] Reasons for this are unknown, some risk factors, longer life expectancy and increased awareness of the disease among health professionals have been indicated as potential contributing factors[10]. To determine the impact of gout during the last decade in our country, our main objective was to analyze the epidemiology, clinical features and costs of hospitalized patients with gout during the last decade in Spain

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