Gout Clinical Medication Review
Here's the third instalment in our new weekly series of training programmes, designed to provide you with the knowledge to conduct effective clinical medication reviews for a range of common chronic conditions. Week 3: Gout.
GOUT - BASIC NEED TO KNOWS
What is it? Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. It is more likely to occur in older men. What is the cause? Having high levels of uric acid in the blood can cause urate crystals to form and
accumulate in the joint, which can then lead to inflammation and intense pain. The most common causes for this are:
A diet rich in red meat
Consumption of alcohol (especially beer) and sugary drinks
Existing medical conditions (such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney problems or osteoarthritis)
Excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco
Medication (such as thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors and beta blockers)
What are the symptoms? Gout usually only occurs in one joint at a time, most often in the big toe. Common symptoms include:
Severe joint pain
Hot, swollen, red skin over the joint
How is it diagnosed? Gout must be diagnosed during a flare up and can be determined using
a range of tests including a blood test, fluid test or scan. How can it be treated? The two types of medication used for gout are reactive and preventative.
For treating gout attacks, the following medications are used:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Colchicine
Corticosteroids
For preventing future attacks, the following medications are used:
Allopurinol (Aloprim, Lopurin, Zyloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric) help to limit the amount of uric acid the body produces.
Probenecid (Probalan) helps to improve the kidneys' ability to remove uric acid from the body.
What Red Flags should you look out for when conducting a clinical medication review for a patient that is taking one of the above medications? And when is the right time to refer? Watch the video below to find out more
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
This is a comprehensive and practical programme that enables you to conduct
Clinical Medication Reviews for Gout in General Practice.
In this module you will learn:
How to structure your clinical medication review
The monitoring requirements for the condition
The monitoring requirements for the medicines used
How to identify Red Flags and know when to refer
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Instant Access
Online on-demand learning
Multiple Choice Quizzes throughout
Certificate upon completion
The programme will take a deep dive into the condition and will cover anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, monitoring requirements, treatment, and ongoing management in primary care.
If you would like your employer to fund this training for you and need additional information please fill out our FUNDING REQUEST form.
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