Abstract

For the past years, the prevalence of gout has shown increasing values from 6.8% in 2015 to 36% in 2021 and affecting up to 15.2% of men and 4.8% of women all over the world, gout still remains a life-threatening condition. Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and is a health condition whereby there is an accumulation of uric acid at the level of the joints causing crystals deposits. Common in people with genetic predisposition, high protein containing dietary products, diseases like high blood pressure, and other factors. Diagnosed using patient history and serum uric acid levels, managed using medication to either reduce uric acid production or to increase uric acid elimination from the body. Nowadays gout is much more diagnosed at late (chronic) stages since it involves an asymptomatic hyperuricemia stage making people not to pay much more attention when they feel pain at the level of the joints and expose these affected people to some complications. This research had as objective, to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of gout amongst patients 20 years and above attending Clinique de L’Ouest de Bafoussam, in order to create awareness amongst these patients for its better management and prevention. The present study was a hospital based descriptive cross sectional study design where a well-structured questionnaire was used to present questions to consented conveniently sampled 100 patients on their socio demographics and their knowledge on the risk factors of gout. Uric acid alongside clinical presentation was also assessed to have the prevalence of gout among the patients. Data was analysed using SPSS version 26. Results indicate that the prevalence of gout amongst patients was 64%, where males were more affected than females. Risks factors statistically associated with gout were: family history of gout (p=0.05) with a prevalence of 45%, presence of comorbidities such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes (p=0.01) and those constantly taking eggs which is a food high in purines substances (p=0.02). Whereas constant knee joint pain was the clinical sign statistically associated with gout with a prevalence of 45% and a p value of 0.02. This study concludes that the prevalence of gout amongst patients of La Clinique De L’Ouest of Bafoussam was high affecting males more than females, it is therefore recommended that constant screening tests and evaluation of risk factors should be done for early diagnosis and proper management of gout in order to reduce its prevalence and effects.