Table 3.
Outcomes in the 6-month period after hospitalizations for gout flares, comparing the pre- and post-implementation cohorts
| Outcome | Pre-implementation, n (%) (n = 94) | Post-implementation, n (%) (n = 97) | Odds ratio (95% CI) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving ULT by 6 months | 61 (64.9) | 91 (93.8) | 7.68 (3.02, 19.6) | <0.001 |
| ULT initiated in hospital or within 6 months of discharge | ||||
| Yes | 32 (49.2) | 72 (92.3) | 11.5 (4.36, 30.5) | <0.001 |
| No | 33 (50.8) | 6 (7.7) | ||
| Receiving ULT pre-admission | 29 | 19 | ||
| Prophylaxis prescribed while initiating ULT | ||||
| Yes | 8 (25.0) | 21 (29.2) | 1.12 (0.42, 2.98) | 0.81 |
| No | 24 (75.0) | 51 (70.8) | ||
| Not newly initiated on ULT | 62 | 25 | ||
| Serum urate performed at least once within 6 months | 30 (31.9) | 56 (57.7) | 2.88 (1.58, 5.25) | 0.001 |
| Serum urate ≤360 μmol/l within 6 months | 10 (10.6) | 26 (26.8) | 3.04 (1.36, 6.78) | 0.007 |
| Serum urate ≤300 μmol/l within 6 months | 5 (5.3) | 13 (13.4) | 2.65 (0.89, 7.84) | 0.079 |
| Rheumatology outpatient clinic within 6 months | 8 (8.5) | 16 (16.5) | 2.08 (0.82, 5.28) | 0.12 |
| Gout telephone clinic within 6 months | N/A | 79 (81.4) | — | — |
| Re-presented to hospital within 6 months | 14 (14.9) | 9 (9.3) | 0.53 (0.22, 1.32) | 0.18 |
Odds ratios from logistic regression models are shown, with adjustment for age and sex. A gout telephone clinic was established as part of the intervention package, and therefore was not available to patients in the pre-implementation cohort. N/A: not available; ULT: urate-lowering therapy.