Awareness of Gout and Hyperuricemia in a Sample of the Adult Population in Iraq
Al- Anbar Medical Journal,
2022, Volume 18, Issue 1, Pages 27-32
10.33091/amj.2022.174527
Abstract
Background: Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men and postmenopausalwomen. The incidence and prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout were increased all over the world
even among developed countries.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rheumatology Unit of
Baghdad Teaching Hospital in Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq from October 2020 to April 2021. A
total of 247 subjects were included in the study. Data were collected using a pre-constructed data
collection sheet by face-to-face individual interviews. The sheet includes demographic characteristics, gout-related questions regarding the etiology, suspected predisposing agents, complications,
diagnostic methods, food-related, clinical manifestations among studied cases, and attitudes of the
gout patients among the study sample.
Results: Of 247 subjects, there were 67.2% (n = 166) males, 27.9 (n = 69) from the age group
40-49 years, 36.4% (n = 90) from Baghdad city, 25.5% (n = 63) university graduates, 19.9% with
good income, 70.5 (174) employed, 221 (89.5%) married, 85% (n = 210) non-smokers, and 8.9%
(n = 22) with family history of gout. Overall, 59 (23.9%) of the participants had a high level of
awareness whereas low awareness levels accounted for 41.3% (n = 102). The awareness level showed
a statistically significant association with education level, occupation, economic status, smoking
habit, family history of gout, and patients with gout (P-value < 0.05).
Conclusion: There was a high proportion (41.3%) of the participants with a low level of awareness
about gout and hyperuricemia. The awareness level among the participants was related to the
education level, occupation, economic status, smoking habit, family history of gout, and patients
with gout.
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Main Subjects:
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