{"id":17945,"date":"2024-12-18T13:38:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T02:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arthritisaustralia.com.au\/?p=17945"},"modified":"2025-03-03T15:09:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T04:09:07","slug":"pr-new-gout-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/pr-new-gout-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Australians with our most misunderstood arthritis &#8211; GOUT- receive resources in time for holidays!"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"17945\" class=\"elementor elementor-17945\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6bdc7ca elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6bdc7ca\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2f6b718\" data-id=\"2f6b718\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d4748c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d4748c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><em>One in 15 Australians are affected by gout \u2013 also referred to as \u2018crystal arthritis\u2019<\/em><\/li><li><em>Gout attacks can be triggered by foods and alcohol abundant on the festive buffet<\/em><\/li><li><em>Gout sufferers face stigma due to lack of understanding that the cause is mostly genetic<\/em><\/li><li><em>New resource hub tackles myths and mismanagement to reduce disease burden.<\/em><p><br \/>[Sydney, Australia] \u2013<strong> Arthritis Australia is launching a first-of-its-kind comprehensive information resource hub for Australians living with Gout &#8211; our most common, but misunderstood form of inflammatory arthritis.<\/strong><\/p><p>Gout, also known as<strong> \u2018crystal arthritis\u2019 or \u2018gouty arthritis\u2019<\/strong>, is a chronic inflammatory joint condition affecting approximately <strong>1 in 15 Australians.<\/strong><sup>1<\/sup> While commonly misunderstood as a condition linked solely to overindulgence in rich foods and alcohol, gout is primarily driven by genetic factors.<\/p><p>Unfortunately, many traditional Christmas foods \u2013 including rich meats, seafood, and alcohol &#8211; can trigger gout flares, making the festive season a particularly stressful and challenging time for those living with the condition.<br \/><br \/>Funded by the Australian Government, and developed together with the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, the new <a href=\"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/types-of-arthritis\/gout\/\">gout resource hub<\/a> is designed to improve treatment and management outcomes and challenge widespread misconceptions and myths about this often-misunderstood condition. It also addresses the increasing prevalence of gout and its associated health and economic burden.<\/p><p>While it can affect anyone, gout is typically more prevalent in men and older adults.<sup>1<\/sup> Women are more prone to developing the condition following menopause.<sup>1<\/sup> Certain ethnic groups are also disproportionately affected.<sup>1<\/sup><br \/><br \/>Despite its prevalence, gout remains significantly undertreated, leading to unnecessary pain, disability, and impaired quality of life.<sup>1,2<\/sup> Gout-related hospitalisations, readmissions, and emergency department visits also place a substantial economic burden on Australia\u2019s healthcare system.<sup>1,2,3<\/sup> An estimated $230.8 million was spent on the treatment and management of gout in 2020-21.<sup>2,3,4<\/sup><br \/><br \/>\u201cChristmas can be particularly challenging for people with gout,\u201d said Jonathan Smithers, Chief Executive Officer, Arthritis Australia. \u201cMisconceptions about the condition and its triggers often lead to anxiety around festive meals. This new resource hub provides practical advice to help individuals enjoy the season without compromising their health.\u201d<br \/><br \/><strong>Gout in Australia: Myths vs. Reality<\/strong><br \/>Recent research underscores the critical need to dispel misconceptions about gout, which is often stigmatised as a self-inflicted condition. Key findings include:<br \/>\u2022 <strong>71%<\/strong> of respondents believed alcohol was a primary cause, while<strong> 74%<\/strong> linked it to rich foods like red meat and seafood.<br \/>\u2022 Only <strong>48%<\/strong> were aware of the genetic and hereditary factors contributing to gout.<br \/>\u2022 While <strong>56%<\/strong> recognised gout\u2019s potential to cause joint damage, fewer understood its links to kidney impairment (<strong>49%<\/strong>) and cardiovascular disease (<strong>24%<\/strong>).<br \/><br \/>\u201cGout is not just about diet and lifestyle. It\u2019s a chronic condition that can be well managed by monitoring uric acid levels and taking urate-lowering medicines. However, many people with gout aren\u2019t currently being treated properly, and this can lead to debilitating joint damage as well as higher risk of kidney and cardiovascular disease,\u201d said Dr David Liew, Medical Director of Arthritis Australia.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFor many, misconceptions and stigma lead to delayed treatment or a reluctance to take medicine. This resource is designed to empower individuals with gout and help support better self-management and shared decision making, and improve long-term health outcomes,\u201d Dr Liew added.<br \/><br \/><strong>Empowering Patients and Communities<\/strong><br \/>The new resource hub aims to address these challenges head-on by offering:<br \/>\u2022 Educational materials to improve understanding of gout as a chronic condition.<br \/>\u2022 Engaging videos providing expert guidance and advice from leading health professionals, along with personal stories from people living with gout, designed to empower other consumers to seek advice and treatment for their condition.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBy equipping Australians with the knowledge to manage their gout effectively, we hope to take the stress out of Christmas and beyond \u2013 and help empower individuals to enjoy the holidays while also prioritising their health,\u201d added Mr Smithers.<br \/><br \/>Visit the resource hub here: <a href=\"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/types-of-arthritis\/gout\/\">https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/types-of-arthritis\/gout\/<\/a><br \/><br \/><strong>About Arthritis Australia<\/strong><br \/>Arthritis Australia is the peak national body for arthritis, advocating on behalf of over 4 million Australians living with arthritis, and working with many other arthritis organisations to deliver information and support to people living with more than 100 types of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. We are a leading non-government funder of arthritis research in Australia and advocate for policies, programs and funding initiatives that will improve the health and wellbeing of people living with arthritis. For more information visit: arthritisaustralia.com.au<br \/><br \/><strong>About the Research<\/strong><br \/>The research was conducted by Arthritis Australia and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance from June to September 2024 &#8211; via an online survey of over 100 people living with gout or caring for someone living with gout.<\/p><br \/><em>Issued by Cube on behalf of Arthritis Australia. For more information, please contact: Anne-Marie Sparrow on 0417 421 560.<br \/><\/em><samp>References:<\/samp><samp>1. Pathmanathan K, Robinson PC, Hill CL,Keen HI. The prevalence of gout and hyperuricaemia in Australia: An updated systematic review. Sem Arthr Rheum 2021: 51(1); 121\u2013128. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.semarthrit.2020.12.001<\/samp><samp>2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 Jan 9]. Chronic musculoskeletal conditions: Gout. Available from: https:\/\/www.aihw.gov.au\/reports\/chronicmusculoskeletal-conditions\/gout<\/samp><samp>3. Kelty E, Nossent J, Raymond W, Robinson P, Hill C, Inderjeeth C, et al. Pos1147 Costs and<\/samp><samp>Factors Affecting Health Service Utilisation in Patients with Gout: A Longitudinal, Population Level Linked Data Study in Western Australia. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Jun;80(Suppl 1):852\u20133<\/samp><samp>4. Lopez D, Dwivedi G, Nossent J, Preen DB, Murray K, Raymond W, et al. Risk of Major Adverse<\/samp><samp>Cardiovascular Event Following Incident Hospitalization for Acute Gout: A Western Australian<\/samp><samp>Population-Level Linked Data Study. ACR Open Rheumatol. 2023;5(6):298\u2013304.<\/samp><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One in 15 Australians are affected by gout \u2013 also referred to as \u2018crystal arthritis\u2019 Gout attacks can be triggered by foods and alcohol abundant on the festive buffet Gout sufferers face stigma due to lack of understanding that the cause is mostly genetic New resource hub tackles myths and mismanagement to reduce disease burden.[Sydney,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12757,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-category"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12757"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17945"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17945\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.arthritisaustralia.org.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}