The Ethnicity Gap in Gout: Correcting Disparities in Treatment to Target

Recent studies suggest that African-Americans are not treated as effectively for gout as are Caucasians in the United States. The reasons for this disparity are not clear, but the appropriate response is obvious to Jasvinder Singh MD, who wrote an editorial on the subject..

In this podcast, hear Dr. Singh recount the evidence for this disparity , and suggest ways to assure that all of your patients receive the best care for gout, whatever their background or ethnicity.

Dr. Singh is Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham

The questions:

1. You write that there's a higher prevalence of gout in the black population and a decreased likelihood that these people will receive urate-lowering therapy than whites will. Is that correct?

2. Is there any evidence that response to urate-lowering therapy also differs according to race or ethnicity?

3. Would you summarize your recommendations about how to narrow this documented racial disparity in gout care?

For Your Reference:

Singh, JA. Can Racial Disparities in Gout Be Reduced? Evidence from a Randomized Trial (2012) BMC Medicine 2012; 10: 15.

Wells AF, MacDonald PA, Chefo S et al African American patients with gout: efficacy and safety of febuxostat vs allopurinol(Drug information on allopurinol). (2012) BMC Musculoskeltal Disorders 13:2012 PMC3317813