| Title | The Effect of Serum Urate on Gout Flares and Their Associated Costs: An Administrative Claims Analysis. | | Author(s) | Halpern R, Fuldeore MJ, Mody RR, Patel PA, Mikuls TR | | Institution | From *i3 Innovus, Eden Prairie, Minnesota; daggerTAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., Lake Forest Illinois; and double daggerUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center and Omaha VA Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. | | Source | J Clin Rheumatol 2008 Dec 19. | | Abstract | BACKGROUND:: Increased serum urate (sUA) levels (>/=6.0 mg/dL) are associated with increased likelihood of acute gout attacks, or "flares."
OBJECTIVES:: Identify gout flares with administrative claims data; examine the relationship between sUA and flares; examine the association between sUA and flare-related costs.
METHODS:: This retrospective administrative claims analysis examined subjects with gout (>/=2 medical claims with ICD-9-CM diagnosis code 274.xx or >/=1 claim with a gout diagnosis and >/=1 pharmacy claim for allopurinol, probenecid, colchicine, or sulfinpyrazone) between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2004. Each subject was observed during 1-year baseline and 1-year follow-up periods. Gout flares were identified with an algorithm using claims for services associated with flares. Outcomes were sUA (mg/dL) and flare-related health care costs. Logistic regression examined the likelihood of flare; generalized linear modeling regression measured the impact of baseline sUA on flare costs, controlling for demographic and health status variables.
RESULTS:: The study sample comprised 18,243 subjects with mean age of 53.9 years. sUA was available for 4277 (23%) subjects. Sixty-two percent (11,253) of subjects had >/=1 flare. The number of mean, unadjusted flares increased with sUA. Logistic results showed subjects with baseline sUA >/=6.0 relative to sUA <6.0 had 1.3 times the odds of gout flare (P <0.05). Generalized linear modeling results showed that baseline sUA >/=6.0 was associated with 2.1 to 2.2 times higher flare costs than was baseline sUA <6.0 (P <0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:: sUA was a significant predictor both of gout flare and related costs. This highlights the importance of gout management strategies aimed at controlling sUA. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19125135 |
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