Changes in cardiovascular risk factors and in the clinical picture of male gout in the past 20 years

Abstract

Objective. To study the prevalence and degree of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the transformation of the clinical picture of gout in the past 20 years. Material and methods. The case histories of 305 male gouty patients (mean age 45.6+11.7years) treated at the Rheumatology Department, S.P. Botkin Faculty Therapy Clinic, S.M. Kirov Military Medical in 1990 to 1994 and 2005 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The pattern and prevalence of CVD and the presence of risk factors were studied in patients with gout. Results. The currently ill patients were found to have high body mass index, high arterial hypertension, more pronounced metabolic changes and carbohydrate metabolic disturbances, and a high atherogenic blood lipid profile, which were correlated with elevated uric acid levels. There was also a high frequency of chronic CVD. Conclusion. The found changes point to the transformation of the disease over a number of years and the steady increase in the degrees of a cardiovascular risk in gouty patients with metabolic disturbances.

Keywords

• gout
• risk factors
• metabolic syndrome
• uric acid
• cardiovascular diseases