Gout in Athletes: Causes, Symptoms, and Management introduction Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is caused by the presence of monosodium urate crystals formed during the course of prolonged...
Gout in Athletes: Causes, Symptoms, and Management introduction Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is caused by the presence of monosodium urate crystals formed during the course of prolonged hyperuricemia. It causes recurrent bouts of arthritis and synovitis and can also lead to tophi and destructive arthropathy. It is a common condition that can be treated by primary care providers and specialists.
It is a condition that will likely be encountered in a sports medicine practice and providers should be comfortable with the diagnosis and management. Many times there are many factors when choosing an agent that include awareness of co-morbidities and sports medicine providers may be uniquely qualified to assist in the treatment and management. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZCP1Y2-lqg Despite the availability for more than 50 years of safe, effective, relatively inexpensive and potentially ‘curative’ urate-lowering drugs there has been a global increase in its incidence and prevalence.
It affects around 4.0% of adults in the US and admissions have also been increasing in recent years. Inadequately treated gouty arthritis leads to structural joint damage, physical disability and chronic impairment of health-related quality of life. In addition, gout is frequently associated with comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and with increased mortality.
Prolonged elevation of serum urate above its crystallization threshold is a major risk factor for developing gout. Baseline levels have been rising in the adult population due to secular increases in aging, increasing prevalence of comorbidities, drugs that raise serum urate and changes in lifestyle that have led to increased obesity. Current treatment is suboptimal, with as many as 70 percent of patients having recurrent gout attacks.
It occurs 3-6 times more often in men. The vast majority of gout patients are under excretors of urinary urate compared to the normal population. Patients with gout have higher tubular reabsorption of urate.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to overview of gout, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
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