Work

Knowledge and practice of gout treatment recommendations by primary health care physicians in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study across five different regions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis in developed countries, can lead to deformities and disabilities, significantly affecting quality of life. Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a crucial role in its management and must adhere to recent guidelines. This study assessed PCPs' knowledge and adherence to gout treatment recommendations in Saudi Arabia using a questionnaire survey. A total of 367 PCPs completed the survey, with 86.4% practicing in Saudi Arabia. The respondents included general physicians (53.1%) and family physicians (49.9%), with a nearly equal gender distribution. For acute gout management, 25.34% recommended nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs combined with corticosteroids. Colchicine was considered safe by 69.8% of participants. Knowledge of urate-lowering therapy was suboptimal, with only 7.9% correctly identifying the appropriate initiation timing and 43.1% recognizing the target serum uric acid (SUA) level. While 74.1% recommended modifying therapy if the SUA target was unmet, only 32% advocated for long-term urate-lowering therapy. Additionally, 18% correctly identified the proper time to measure SUA levels. Lifestyle modifications were acknowledged by 57.2%, and 55% recognized the cardiovascular risks associated with gout. Overall, PCPs demonstrated poor compliance with gout management guidelines. Strategies to improve adherence include continuing medical education, disease-management websites, and smartphone apps. Rheumatologists should serve as key resources for PCPs, providing education through consultations, formal training, and conference presentations.

Source: Medicine

DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000043179