Objective: We aimed to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by gout severity, overall and by sex.
Method: A questionnaire was sent to patients with gout (n = 1444) identified at 12 primary care centres in Western Sweden. The questionnaire asked about comorbidities, gout-specific aspects, and HRQoL, using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey. Responders were divided into 'mild', 'moderate', or 'severe' gout based on the number of self-reported flares (0, 1-2, ≥ 3) during the past 12 months.
Results: Out of 1444 gout patients, 784 (54.3%) responded to the questionnaire. Among the respondents, 673 [560 (83.2%) men and 113 (16.8%) women] provided answers regarding the number of gout flares in the past year. Of these, 322 (47.8%), 218 (32.4%), and 133 (19.8%) were classified as having mild, moderate, and severe gout, respectively. Allopurinol use was more frequent in those with mild disease. In more severe gout, HRQoL was reduced compared to less severe gout [severe vs mild gout, mean values for physical component summary (PCS) score 39.5 vs 43.6, p = 0.002, and mental component summary (MCS) score 46.6 vs 51.1, p < 0.001]. When excluding those with a flare in the past month, the HRQoL was still worse in severe gout (vs mild), although differences were attenuated and not statistically significant for the PCS and for women.
Conclusion: Gout severity, defined as the number of flares during the past year, was associated with significant reductions in HRQoL.