Linking gout-specific patient-reported outcome measurement and lifestyle habits in patients with gout: results from the ULTRA registry

Abstract Background : The Gout Impact Scale (GIS), a part of the Gout Assessment Questionnaire 2.0, is a gout-specific patient-reported outcome measurement to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with gout. We aimed to investigate the correlation between GIS and lifestyle habits in Korean patients with gout. Methods : We utilized the data from the aftermath of Urate Lowering TheRApy in gout (ULTRA) registry, a prospective cohort of Korean patients with gout treated in multiple centers nationwide since September 2021. Subjects were 18 years or older and met the 2015 ACR/EULAR gout classification criteria. They were asked to fill out the GIS questionnaire and questions regarding lifestyle habits on enrolment. Results : The study included 232 patients. The mean (standard deviation) age was 55.1 (17.7) years, and 90.5% of patients were men. The ‘gout concern overall’ score in the GIS was significantly lower in patients who exercised less frequently and consumed soft drinks and meat, and the ‘well-being during attack’ score was significantly lower in patients who consumed vegetables and exercised more frequently. The frequency of vegetable consumption had a negative linear relationship with the ‘well-being during attack’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores ( P =0.01, P =0.001, respectively). The frequency of exercise had a negative linear relationship with the ‘gout concern overall’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores ( P =0.04, P =0.002, respectively). Conclusion : The GIS was highly useful in identifying favorable lifestyle habits for Korean patients with gout. Patients who frequently consumed vegetables and exercised were associated with a better HRQOL.