A literature review of the epidemiology and treatment of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity697 @entity625 @entity14296 @entity3812 @entity210 @entity288
BACKGROUND: Gout is the most common cause of @entity625 in @entity1 aged >40 years and is frequently encountered in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this article was to review the published literature on the epidemiology, treatment, and estimated burden of illness of @entity697 . METHODS: Articles on @entity210 published in English between 1980 and June 2002 were identified through a MEDLINE search. Relevant clinical studies and review articles were found using the text- and keyword-search term @entity210 alone and in combination with epidemiology, prevalence, incidence, complications, outcome, quality of life, economics, cost, prevention or drug therapy. The reference lists of identified articles, especially review articles, were checked for any additional studies that might have been missed in the original MEDLINE search. RESULTS: The epidemiology of @entity210 in various geographic regions has been well documented. Data suggest that environmental, racial, and hereditary factors may influence the development of @entity210 , and that the prevalence of @entity210 appears to be on the rise worldwide. Evidence from well-designed clinical studies evaluating drug therapies for @entity210 is limited. Therapies for @entity697 include corticotropin, @entity288 , @entity3812 or, more often, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which have shown comparable efficacy. A recent study suggests that @entity14296 , a new cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitor, may be as effective as and better tolerated than traditional NSAIDs in the treatment of @entity210 . Urate-lowering therapy, prophylactic @entity3812 , and low-dose NSAIDs are used for the long-term prophylaxis of @entity210 . However, all acute and prophylactic therapies are associated with adverse events. Using an economic model for @entity210 , the annual direct burden of illness for new cases of @entity697 can be estimated at 27,378,494 US dollars in the United States. CONCLUSIONS: Gout is an increasingly prevalent condition worldwide and creates a heavy economic burden. Available treatments are generally effective; however, they are not devoid of adverse events. Well-designed, long-term, controlled clinical trials evaluating the comparative efficacy and tolerability of treatments for @entity210 are needed.
