NSC2500 | Gout and Use of Corticosteroids

Running head: SUBJECT- NSC2500 AND STUDENT ID- U1112475
Gout and Use of Corticosteroids
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SUBJECT- NSC2500 AND STUDENT ID- U1112475
Introduction
Around the world, a huge number of people is suffering from gout and the scenario of
Australia, is not at all different from different countries of the world. According to the data of
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017–18, it is observed that approximately 187,000
Australians that is 0.8 per cent of the overall population in the country is suffering from this
condition. Moreover, the data also states that the issues of gout are more common among the
males than that of the female population of the country and approximately 9 out of 10 people
having gout in Australia is male. Although, the self-reported data showed a lower prevalence
of the disease condition, an Australian population based study reported that the overall
prevalence of disease in the country is almost 1.5 per cent and the rate of gout is enhancing
with the growing age by almost 11 per cent in males and 4.6 per cent in females under the age
group of 85 years or more (Australian Government, 2020).
In this essay, a brief overview of the disease condition, pathophysiology of the disease
and along with this, the medicines that can be used to treat the condition are discussed in a
brief manner and this article is mainly designed for the patients visiting the obesity clinic of
the hospital care setting.
What is Gout
While discussing about the disease of gout, it can be stated that it is mainly a
condition that is known as hyperuricemia. This condition mainly takes place due to the
presence of high amount of uric acid in the human body. According to the information of
Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is stated that in the human body the
production of uric acid takes place due to the breakdown of purines present in the food
particles and human body as well. High amount of uric acid production can cause the gout
disease in the body of an individual. In other words, it can be stated that gout is mainly a

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SUBJECT- NSC2500 AND STUDENT ID- U1112475
common and complex form of arthritis which can affect people of any age group. This
disease is characterized by severe and sudden attack of pain, redness, swelling and tenderness
in the various body joints. Furthermore, an attack of gout can take place suddenly, often after
waking up in the midnight along with a burning sensation in the big toe. The affected joints
due to disease condition will be swollen and inflammated (Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2020).
Physiology of Gout
The production of uric acids from the purine components is a natural phenomenon
and the consumed foods also have uric acid content. Therefore, it is stated that the in the
human body the produced uric acid is dissolved in the blood and passes into the urine through
the kidneys. However, in some specific cases, the body produces high amount of uric acids or
the kidney may fail to excrete the uric acids properly and as a consequences of this, the
amount of uric acid in the body become high than that of the normal range and formation of
the urate crystals take place in the body. Due to the crystal form those urate components
cannot be excreted through the urine and starts to accumulate in the different body joints and
causes inflammation and intense pain of gout attack. There are a few risk factors that can
cause gout in the body and they are mainly the dietary habits, obesity, family history of gout
and age and sex of the individuals (Ahmed et al., 2018).
Pathophysiology of Gout
While discussing about the pathophysiology of Gout or hyperuricemia, it can be
stated that the name of the disease correctly indicates the pathological condition takes place
in the body due to this disease. The high amount of urate crystal or monosodium urate (MSU)
crystals existence in the body is associated with the underlying inflammation of the bodily
joints during the disease condition. The interaction of this MSU and the nearby cells of the
Comment [L1]: Overview of the disease
Comment [L2]: Physiology of disease