Abstract:
Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis affecting adults, with up to 4.9% of the New Zealand population affected. It is severely painful, and causes inability to work and interact with family. The New Zealand Atlas of Healthcare Variation shows Māori and Pacific people are disproportionately affected – nearly half of Pacific men and over a third of Māori men over 65 years of age are identified as having gout, as compared with 16.5% of European and other men of the same age. Despite this, Māori and Pacific people receive the recommended treatment, called allopurinol, less than other groups, and are more likely to be prescribed more toxic drugs like colchicine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) instead, which risk joint damage. The Atlas has been publishing these data for three years – why has nothing improved?
