Patient discussions

Patients should be made aware of the signs, symptoms and causes of gout. They should also be advised of any risk factors they have for gout, for example:[53]

  • Genetics

  • Excess body weight or obesity

  • Medicine they may be taking

  • Comorbidities such as kidney disease or hypertension.

Patients should understand that gout is a lifelong condition, and that disease progression will occur without long term urate lowering treatment to eliminate urate crystals and prevent flares, shrink tophi and prevent long term joint damage.[53]

Patients should be advised that foods with a high purine content (i.e., alcohol, seafood, and offal) are associated with higher risk for elevated uric acid and gout.[15]

Reducing intake of alcohol, especially beer, lowers the risk of gout.[141]

Reducing seafood and meat intake helps to a lesser degree.

Reducing fructose and concentrated sweets might help to reduce uric acid and the risk for gout attacks.

Dairy products reduce the risk of gout.[14][37]

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