A Study on the Prevalence of Gout Among Visitors to the Clinics in the City of Zawiya, Libya
Keywords:
Gout, Uric acid, Arthritis, Alnizam alghadAbstract
Gout is a clinical syndrome resulting from the deposition of sodium urate monohydrate crystals, leading to acute inflammation in the joints. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of gout among patients attending clinics in Zawiya, and to determine the impact of age, gender, and diet on chronic diseases. It will also examine lifestyle changes following the onset of the disease and their effect on daily life. Data were collected from 40 patients with gout at clinics in Zawiya between July 10, 2024, and December 15, 2024. The results showed that the 42-52 age group had the highest prevalence at 50%, followed by the 31-41 age group at 30%,The age group above above 52 years comes next, accounting for 15% while the lowest prevalence was among those under 30 years old, at 5%. The study also revealed that females accounted for 95% of cases, compared to 5% for males. The study also revealed the impact of diet, with 70% of participants reporting high consumption of red meat, while 30% reported low consumption. Regarding medical history, 62% of participants had heart disease and high blood pressure, while 38% did not. As for lifestyle changes after a gout diagnosis, the results showed that 90% of patients modified their habits, while 10% did not. The impact of the disease on daily life was assessed, with 59.3% reporting a significant impact and 37% reporting a lesser impact, indicating the extent to which gout affects patients' quality of life. Based on these findings, the study recommends health education and enhanced awareness campaigns to continue educating the public about the disease and its relationship to various factors such as age, gender, and diet. It also recommends promoting regular medical checkups to encourage patients to take all necessary preventative measures. This will contribute to improving their quality of life and reducing the effects of the disease.
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