A Study of Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Gout: A Single Center Study from Nepal.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS To study the prevalence of deranged metabolic parameters in patients with gout. METHODS This was a prospective, cross-sectional observational study conducted at a tertiary level rheumatology center in Nepal. Patients over 18 years and diagnosed as gout using the ACR/EULAR 2015 classification criteria were included in the study. Known cases of chronic kidney disease, liver disease and heart diseases were excluded. Baseline demographic data along with records of weight, waist circumference, lipid profile, glucose profile, blood pressure measurement, serum uric acid level and inflammatory markers were taken. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MS) was made according to the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. Approval was obtained from ethical review board of National Center for Rheumatic Diseases. RESULTS A total of 523 patients with gout were enrolled in the study out of which 97.0% were male. The mean age at diagnosis was 49.1±12.8 years. Most of the patients were overweight with the mean BMI of 27.0±3.6 kg/m2. About 8.1 % had preexisting diabetes mellitus, 24.6 % had hypertension, 5.1 % had hypothyroidism and 45.1 % had dyslipidemia. Patients fulfilling 2 out of 5 criteria of MS were 60.6% whereas 30.6 % fulfilled 3 out of 5 criteria. CONCLUSION Gout was commonly observed in middle-aged men. The prevalence of metabolic syndromeand its components were high in patients with gout. Management of gout should also include screening and management of metabolic syndrome.