Abstract
To elucidate the current status in the management of gout and hyperuricemia, questionnaires were sent to general physicians and / or orthopedists and specialists in gout management and responses from 901 generalists and 85 specialists were cross-sectionally analyzed.
Several important differences were observed between the two groups of doctors. Restriction of total calorie intake and recommendation about drinking water were regarded a part of preferable self-care by most specialists but not by general practitioners. One-fourth of the generalists prescribed urate-lowering agents for the treatment of acute arthritis, while only one-half of the generalists recognized Uralyt as an urate-lowering agent. Thus, confusion in therapeutic approaches to acute gouty arthritis was revealed among general practitioners.
Howevere, as to the criteria for the management of hyperuricemia, differences in opinion were noted among both specialists and general doctors, suggesting the absence of consensus regarding therapeutic strategy.
Thus, greater effort should be given to spread useful information among general practitioners by establishing definitive therapeutic guidelines for the management of gout and hyperuricemia.
