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Patients with gout are more likely to suffer osteoporotic fractures than those with osteoarthritis, yet they're far less likely to be screened or treated for osteoporosis. A new study in Arthritis Care & Research found that only 5% of gout patients received bone-protective therapy at baseline, compared to 11.8% of osteoarthritis patients. Researchers say this gap represents a missed opportunity to improve quality of life for a high-risk group.
Patients with gout carry a well-known burden of comorbidities — but a new study highlights a surprisingly overlooked one: osteoporosis. Despite facing higher rates of osteoporotic fractures than patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or soft-tissue rheumatism (STR), gout patients are significantly less likely to be diagnosed or treated for bone loss, according to research published in Arthritis Care & Research.
The retrospective cohort study, led by Emily E. Holladay, MPH, of the University of Alabama, Birmingham, analyzed data from the ACR's RISE registry linked to Medicare claims (2015–2021). Over 3,300 matched patient pairs were examined across gout-vs.-OA and gout-vs.-STR cohorts.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Osteoporotic fractures worsen quality of life and compound the already heavy comorbidity load in gout patients. Rheumatologists have a clear opportunity — and arguably a responsibility — to close this screening and treatment gap.
