Optimising gout treatment: insights from a nurse-led cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: Currently, gout management, particularly urate-lowering therapy (ULT), is often suboptimal. Nurses successfully manage various diseases including gout. As gout prevalence is rising, and rheumatologists and general practitioners face shortages, a new approach is imperative. This real-life prospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of nurse-led care employing a treat-to-target strategy for gout management over a 2-year period.

Methods: All consecutively confirmed gout patients were included. The nurse-led clinic provided a structured treatment plan with consultations, patient leaflets, telephone contacts and laboratory monitoring. After a year of nurse-led care, patients transitioned to continued care in general practice. Follow-up data were complete through registries. The primary outcome was achieving target p-urate levels (<0.36 mmol/L) at 2 years after diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included treatment continuation and achievement of target p-urate levels in specific subgroups. The results were compared with patients diagnosed in the same clinic but followed up in 'usual care'.

Results: In the nurse-led group (n=114), 83% achieved target p-urate levels and ULT was continued by 98%. This trend persisted across various patient subgroups. Only 44% of patients in usual care achieved target p-urate and with insufficient doses of allopurinol . Nurse-led care involved an average of two visits and three telephone contacts over 336 days. The 2-year mortality rate was 15%.

Conclusions: Nurse-led gout care, employing a targeted approach, was associated with a very high uptake of and adherence to ULT. The encouraging results were not achieved in usual care although a direct comparison might be influenced by selection bias.

Keywords: Crystal arthropathies; Gout; Health services research; Nursing.

Figure 1

Flow chart illustrating the study participants from the date of microscopy confirming gout. Follow-up assessments were conducted 2 years after the date of microscopy. Nurse-led care was established on 20 June 2017. GP, general practice.