Impact of urate-lowering therapy on quality of life indicators in patients with gout

Gout can have a significant impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients.

Objective: to assess the dynamics of QoL indicators and the possibility of achieving the target level of uric acid (UA) in patients with gout on febuxostat therapy, with ineffectiveness and / or contraindications to the allopurinol administration.

Patients and methods. The prospective, single-center study included 80 patients with gout. The follow-up period was at least 6 months of allopurinol or febuxostat (Azurix®) therapy in doses required to achieve the target UA level. When urate-lowering therapy was initiated, allopurinol 100 mg per day was prescribed, followed by dose titration (up to maximum of 900 mg per day) until the target UA level was reached (<360 μmol/L). Patients with ineffectiveness of allopurinol and / or adverse reactions (ADRs) were transferred to febuxostat 80–120 mg per day. To prevent arthritis attacks, all patients received low doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or colchicine 0.5 mg per day or glucocorticoids 7,5 mg per day (in prednisolone equivqlent). At the first and last visits, patients on febuxostat completed the SF-36 questionnaire.

Results and discussion. After 6 months of follow-up, 70 (88%) patients received urate-lowering therapy, of whom 51 (73%) reached the target UA level. Allopurinol dosage titration required 26 patients, of whom 14 (54%) achieved the treatment goal. Due to the ineffectiveness of allopurinol, 32 patients were switched to febuxostat, which allowed to achieve normouricemia in 69% of cases. Fifteen (68%) of 22 patients who were initiated with febuxostat due to ADRs to allopurinol also achieved the target UA level. Patients who received febuxostat and reached the target UA level improved QoL indicators: role-physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality and general physical well-being (p<0.05 in all cases). Patients who did not reach the target UA level on febuxostat therapy improved such indicators as physical functioning, role-physical functioning, and bodily pain (p<0.05 in all cases). High compliance was observed in 63% of patients, treated with febuxostat and in 36% of patients, treated with allopurinol.

Conclusion. In patients with ineffectiveness or intolerance to allopurinol, in 69% of cases febuxostat allows to achieve the target UA level and improving QoL and complience.

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