Health Literacy and Gout Characteristics in a Primary Care Cohort

Watson, Lorraine; Protheroe, Joanne; Mallen, Christian; Muller, Sara; Roddy, Edward

Abstract

Objectives
To examine the cross-sectional association between health literacy and gout characteristics.

Methods
In a primary care cohort of adults living with gout, the prevalence of poor health literacy was defined using the Single-Item Literacy Screener (SILS). Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the cross-sectional associations between health literacy and individual gout characteristics (frequency of flares, age at gout onset, history of oligo-/polyarticular flares, allopurinol use, allopurinol dose and serum urate level) with 95% CIs and adjustment for age, sex, deprivation and further education.

Results
Of 551 participants [mean age 54.4 years (S.D. 11.2), 498 (90.4%) male], 163 (30.1%) reported two or more flares in the previous 12 months. Fifty-one (9.4%) had poor health literacy. Poor health literacy was associated with having two or more flares in the preceding 12 months [adjusted OR 4.10 (95% CI 2.04, 8.19)] and a history of oligo-/polyarticular flares [OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.06, 3.55)]. No associations were identified between health literacy and age at gout onset [OR 0.99 (95% CI 0.96, 1.01)], allopurinol use [OR 0.88 (95% CI 0.46, 1.65)] or dose [OR 1.00 OR (95% CI 1.00, 1.00)] or serum urate [most recent serum urate OR 1.0 (95% CI 1.00, 1.00)].

Conclusions
Frequent flares and a history of oligo-/polyarticular flares were associated with poor health literacy. Since health literacy is an important determinant of health outcomes, it is important to consider health literacy when providing information and education to people with gout.

Citation

Watson, L., Protheroe, J., Mallen, C., Muller, S., & Roddy, E. (2024). Health Literacy and Gout Characteristics in a Primary Care Cohort. Rheumatology Advances in Practice, 8(2), Article rkae034. https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkae034

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Mar 6, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 6, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 11, 2024
• Journal: Rheumatology Advances in Practice
• Print ISSN: 2514-1775
• Electronic ISSN: 2514-1775
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: rkae034
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkae034
• Keywords: Rheumatology
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/763940