Managing Gout: A Review of the Research for Adults - Consumer Summary | AHRQ Effective Health Care Program

Managing Gout: A Review of the Research for Adults - Consumer Summary | AHRQ Effective Health Care Program

Consumer Summary – Jan. 31, 2017

Managing Gout: A Review of the Research for Adults

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Table of Contents

• Is This Information Right for Me?
• Understanding Your Condition
• Understanding Your Options
• Making a Decision
• Source

Is This Information Right for Me?

This information is right for you if:

• Your health care professional* has said that you have gout.
• You are age 18 or older. This information is from research on adults.

* Your health care professional may include your primary care doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, rheumatologist (a doctor specializing in diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones), orthopedist (a doctor specializing in injuries and disorders of the bones and muscles), or emergency room doctor.

This summary will answer these questions:

• What is gout?
• How is gout diagnosed?
• How is a gout attack treated?
  • What have researchers found about medicines to treat a gout attack?
• What can I do to help prevent future gout attacks?
  • What have researchers found about medicines to help prevent future gout attacks?
• What are possible side effects of medicines for gout?
• What should I think about when deciding about gout treatment?

What is the source of this information?

This information comes from a research report that was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a Federal Government agency.

Researchers looked at 154 research studies on treating gout. The studies were published through March 2016. Health care professionals, researchers, experts, and the public gave feedback on the report before it was published.