Background/Purpose: Gout management is mainly focused on life style modification and proper medications. Of note, seasonal variation of gout flare was also implemented to be a factor to consider. There is yet no study in which investigated the association of climate and gout flare by utilizing big data.

Methods: The operational definition of gout flare was developed and pre-tested in a single institute (BRMC). Patient data (2008-2014) were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service. Ambient and dew point temperature during the same period were acquired from the weather station located in Seoul. Using generalized additive and piecewise linear regression models, we estimated the number of gout flare admissions associated with daily apparent temperature after adjusting relevant covariates. We also compared this model in patients admitted for stroke or acute myocardial infarction.

Results: A total of 71,687 episodes were identified as gout flares in Seoul. The mean daily and dew point temperature were 12.6 °C, 4.4 °C, respectively, and the mean daily apparent temperature was 12.5 °C. Increase in gout flare admissions displayed a nonlinear relationship with the apparent temperature within 2 days of admission, at both low and high ends. Especially, the number of admissions increased by 7.77% (95% confidence interval 6.35, 9.22) per 1 °C decrease in apparent temperature below the -3 °C flexion point. This distinctive nonlinear pattern was not observed in admissions due to hemorrhagic, ischemic stroke or acute myocardial infarction.

Conclusion: Our data indicate that monitoring sudden changes of daily apparent temperature alongside abiding treatment guidelines could add additional benefit to gout patients in their daily lives.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/atmospheric-temperature-and-the-incidence-of-gout-flare-data-from-the-korea-meteorological-association-and-national-health-insurance-service/