The relationship between the Charlson comorbidity Index and clinical characteristics of gout

DOI: 10.47026/2413-4864-2026-2-1-12

UDC: 616-002.78-06-036
BBC: Р415.202.4-3

Bashkova I.B., Madyanov I.V.

The relationship between the Charlson comorbidity Index and clinical characteristics of gout

Keywords: gout, hyperuricemia, comorbid diseases, Charlson comorbidity index, allopurinol

Gout is currently considered as a systemic metabolic disease associated with a wide range of comorbid conditions that not only determine the patients' quality of life, but significantly limit its duration as well. The aim of the study was to calculate the Charlson comorbidity index in patients with gout and to assess its relationship with some features of the course of the disease. Materials and methods. 150 patients with gout (137 of them were men (91.3%)) from among outpatient patients were included in a continuous uncontrolled cross sectional study. The Charlson comorbidity index was calculated using the method proposed by M.E. Charlson. Two groups of patients were identified: those with high comorbidity (comorbidity index – more than 5 points) and moderate comorbidity (5 points or less). Results. Among the most common comorbid conditions, arterial hypertension (73.3%), dyslipidemia (63.3%), obesity (49.3%), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (34.0%), chronic kidney disease stage 3 and higher (22.7%), coronary heart disease (21.3%), diabetes mellitus Type 2 (16.7%) were noted. The median of the Charlson index in patients with gout was 4 points. In 37 patients (24.7%) high comorbidity and in 113 patients (75.3%) moderate comorbidity were observed. Statistically significant positive associations of the Charlson index with the age of gout onset (r = 0.55), its duration (r = 0.37), the maximum level of uric acid in the blood during the disease (r = 0.24), the number of involved joints (r = 0.38), and the radiological stage of gouty arthritis (r = 0.39) were found. An increase in the Charlson comorbidity index was accompanied by a significant increase in the level of uric acid in the blood (p = 0.048). Patients with high comorbidity were revealed to have a longer duration of gout (11 years [5; 17] versus 6 years [3; 10], p = 0.005) and higher values of uricemia (618.6±110.5 mmol/l versus 567.8±139.8 mmol/L, p = 0.010), arthritis chronification was more common (рc2 = 0.003), as well as formation of subcutaneous tophi (рc2 = 0,003), an increase in the number of involved joints (4 [3; 5] vs. 2 [2; 4], p = 0.003) and the frequency of gouty attacks (3 [2; 4] vs. 2 [1; 3], р = 0.009). Allopurinol was significantly more frequently prescribed to patients with high comorbidity (рc2 = 0.018). Conclusions. A high prevalence of comorbid conditions was observed in patients with gout, with hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity and chronic kidney disease being the most common. The use of the Charlson index made it possible not only to quantify the severity of the comorbid background (the median index was 4 points), but also to identify its relationship with the clinical features of the disease. High comorbidity (more than 5 points), registered in every fourth patient (24.7%), was associated with a more aggressive course of gout.

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About authors

Bashkova Inna B.: Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Hospital Therapy, Chuvash State University; Rheumatologist, Federal Center for Traumatology, Orthopedics and Arthroplasty, Russia, Cheboksary (innabashkova@yandex.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3509-1072)

Madyanov Igor V.: Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Department of Hospital Therapy, Chuvash State University; Professor, Department of Therapy and General Medical Practice, Postgraduate Doctors' Training Institute, Russia, Cheboksary (igo-madyanov@yandex.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8750-2799)

Article link

Bashkova I.B., Madyanov I.V. The relationship between the Charlson comorbidity Index and clinical characteristics of gout [Electronic resource] // Acta medica Eurasica. – 2026. – №2. P. 1-12. – URL: https://acta-medica-eurasica.ru/en/single/2026/2/1/. DOI: 10.47026/2413-4864-2026-2-1-12.

Single article

Bashkova I.B., Madyanov I.V.