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ABSTRACT: Objectives
To evaluate a strategy designed to optimize care and increase uptake of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) during hospitalizations for gout flares.Methods
We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate a strategy that combined optimal in-hospital gout management with a nurse-led, follow-up appointment, followed by handover to primary care. Outcomes, including ULT initiation, urate target attainment and re-hospitalization rates, were compared between patients hospitalized for flares in the 12 months post-implementation and a retrospective cohort of hospitalized patients from 12 months pre-implementation.Results
One hundred and nineteen and 108 patients, respectively, were hospitalized for gout flares in the 12 months pre- and post-implementation. For patients with 6-month follow-up data available (n = 94 and n = 97, respectively), the proportion newly initiated on ULT increased from 49.2% pre-implementation to 92.3% post-implementation (age/sex-adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 11.5; 95% CI 4.36, 30.5; P < 0.001). After implementation, more patients achieved a serum urate ≤360 μmol/l within 6 months of discharge (10.6% pre-implementation vs 26.8% post-implementation; aOR 3.04; 95% CI 1.36, 6.78; P = 0.007). The proportion of patients re-hospitalized for flares was 14.9% pre-implementation vs 9.3% post-implementation (aOR 0.53; 95% CI 0.22, 1.32; P = 0.18).Conclusion
Over 90% of patients were initiated on ULT after implementing a strategy to optimize hospital gout care. Despite increased initiation of ULT during flares, recurrent hospitalizations were not more frequent following implementation. Significant relative improvements in urate target attainment were observed post-implementation; however, for the majority of hospitalized gout patients to achieve urate targets, closer primary-secondary care integration is still needed.
SUBMITTER: Russell MD
PROVIDER: S-EPMC11292051 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Russell Mark D MD Ameyaw-Kyeremeh Louise L Dell'Accio Flora F Lapham Heather H Head Natalie N Stovin Christopher C Patel Vishit V Clarke Benjamin D BD Nagra Deepak D Alveyn Edward E Adas Maryam A MA Bechman Katie K de la Puente María A MA Ellis Benjamin B Byrne Corrine C Patel Rina R Rutherford Andrew I AI Cantle Fleur F Norton Sam S Roddy Edward E Hudson Joanna J Cope Andrew P AP Galloway James B JB
Rheumatology (Oxford, England) 20240801 8
<h4>Objectives</h4>To evaluate a strategy designed to optimize care and increase uptake of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) during hospitalizations for gout flares.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate a strategy that combined optimal in-hospital gout management with a nurse-led, follow-up appointment, followed by handover to primary care. Outcomes, including ULT initiation, urate target attainment and re-hospitalization rates, were compared between patients hospitalize ...[more]