Gout

Weather Influences Attacks of Gout

(HealthCentersOnline) - Flare-ups of gout are more common when the weather is hot and humid, and patients can help prevent attacks by drinking enough water, scientists report.

Gout is a particularly painful form of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. Uric acid is a waste product formed from the breakdown of purines, substances found in the body's tissues and in foods such as organ meats and seafood. Crystals of uric acid can form in the big toe and other joints, beneath the skin and in the kidneys.

Gout is common in people with type 2 diabetes and in those who have diabetic risk factors, including obesity, kidney disease, high blood pressure and unhealthy levels of cholesterol and other blood fats.

Researchers in Boston recruited 197 gout patients to examine how temperature and humidity might affect the occurrence of attacks. When experiencing a bout, the volunteers completed an online questionnaire on their risk factors from the past two days (dubbed the "hazard period"). They also completed the questionnaire for a two-day control period.

The researchers gathered federal climate data from each volunteer's ZIP code for the hazard periods and control periods. They made adjustment for gout risk factors such as use of diuretics and consumption of meat or alcohol.

The scientists found that recurrent attacks of gout were much more common during periods of high humidity and temperatures. No association with rain or barometric pressure was noted.

The scientists suggested that gout patients avoid dehydration and flare-ups by drinking enough fluids during hot, muggy weather.

The study was presented this month at the American College of Rheumatology's annual scientific meeting.

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