Gout in Aotearoa New Zealand: are we going to ignore this for another 3 years?

Making Education Easy

Authors:

Authors: Dalbeth N et al.

April 26, 2016

Summary:

Summary: The 2013 New Zealand Atlas of Healthcare Variation showed that Māori and Pacific people are disproportionately affected by gout, with nearly half of Pacific men and over a third of Māori men aged >65 years identified as having gout, as compared with 16.5% of European and other men of the same age. Despite this, Māori and Pacific people were less likely to receive effective long-term urate-lowering therapy (allopurinol) and were more likely to be prescribed more of the treatments of increased toxicity required to manage acute flares (colchicine and NSAIDs), which risk joint damage. Moreover, Māori and Pacific people had five times as many gout-related hospital admissions as those of European/Other ethnicities. This Editorial highlights that these data have remained unchanged for three years and asks why nothing has improved.

Comment:

Comment (MH & RJ): This group of leaders has passionately advocated for better gout management in Aotearoa for many years now. The sense of frustration is clearly evident here, and understandable. We hear the stories of poor quality care, whether that be as a GP in South Auckland, Māori men’s health researcher, or whānau member.

Reference: N Z Med J. 2016;129(1429):10-3

Independent commentary by Dr. Matire Hardwood

Dr Matire Harwood (Ngapuhi) has worked in Hauora Māori, primary health and rehabilitation settings as clinician and researcher since graduating from Auckland Medical School in 1994. She also holds positions on a number of boards, committees and advisory groups including the Health Research Council. Matire lives in Auckland with her whānau including partner Haunui and two young children Te Rangiura and Waimarie.

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