Nurse-led cardiovascular disease risk management intervention for patients with gout

Background: Patients with gout are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this risk is frequently under-managed. Aims: To evaluate a nurse-led multidisciplinary approach to improve CVD risk management in patients with gout. Methods: Patients referred to rheumatology clinics for gout management received a structured nurse-led CVD risk assessment. For the patients with an initial 5 year risk >10%, interventions for CVD prevention were identified and goals developed. These patients were then reassessed approximately 6 months later to determine changes in CVD risk management and profile. Results: Of 210 patients with gout, 73% had either a 5-year CVD risk >10% or had known CVD. Of these higher risk patients, 84% were available for follow-up. Compared with the initial visit there were improvements at follow-up in: the prescription of aspirin, statins, nicotine replacement therapy, uptake of self-reported activity levels, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with a trend towards reduced cigarette smoking. Conclusion: A nurse-led intervention to assess and manage cardiovascular risk in patients with gout is effective in improving uptake of preventative interventions. (C) 2010 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.