Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of 99 patients with gout

Gender: male, n (%)	96 (97)
Age, mean (s.d.), years	57.1 (11.0)
Disease duration, mean (s.d.), years	8.2 (7.7)
Self-reported joint involved during last flare
Monoarticular (1 joint), n (%)	11 (11.1)
Oligoarticular (2–4 joints), n (%)	52 (52.5)
Polyarticular (>4 joints), n (%)	36 (36.4)
Patients with comorbidities, n (%)	46 (46.9)
OA	18 (18)
Low back pain	12 (12)
Diabetes mellitus	4 (4)
Coronary heart disease	4 (4)
Congestive heart failure	3 (3)
Chronic renal failure	2 (2)
Others	3 (3)
Previous treatment, n (%)
None	46 (46.5)
Allopurinol (50–300 mg)	53 (53.5)
Serum uric acid, mean (s.d.), mg/dl	8.9 (1.4)
Presence of tophi, n (%)	40 (40.4)
Number of flares, mean (s.d.)	4.7 (4.5)
Plain radiographs, n (%)
Normal	36 (36.4)
Erosions	19 (19.2)
Erosions and joint involvement	44 (44.4)