Assessment of features of the clinical course of gout in elderly women

Abstract

Objective: To study the characteristics of gout at its onset in elderly women. Material and methods: 50 patients with primary gout (25 men and 25 women) were observed based on the criteria of S. Wallace et al. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1st – 27 patients over 60 years old, 2nd – 23 patients under 60 years old. The average age of onset of gout in the 1st group was 55±4.2 years, in the 2nd group – 45±5.0 years. Results: The duration of the disease in both groups averaged 6 years. Arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint at the onset of the disease in groups 1 and 2 was diagnosed in 75 and 65% of cases, respectively. Chronic arthritis in group 1 was diagnosed in 14 (50%) patients, in group 2 – in 10 (45%). Tophi were detected during examination in 21 and 37%, respectively. Diuretics were taken by 14 (50%) and 11 (47%) patients. Arterial hypertension was detected in 6 (25%) of those examined in group 1 and in 17 (40%) in group 2. The number of obese patients in the two groups was comparable (41 and 43%). Conclusions: The main clinical features of gout are characteristic of elderly patients as well as younger patients. Cardiovascular diseases at the onset of gout are more often observed in old age