Gout Relief Measurement
We all want gout relief, but sometimes we don’t know which treatment is best.
Scientists have struggled for decades to prove that one gout treatment is better than another.
Now gout researchers have a foolproof way to test for gout pain improvements.
This brings 2 benefits:
- Very helpful in developing better gout treatments.
- Immediate help to assess gout sufferers progress.
Help Develop Better Gout Treatments
In many research projects, particularly clinical trials, scientists have struggled to identify benefits in a comparable way.
W J Taylor and colleagues have shown that a standard questionnaire, HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index) is a sound measure of the affects of gout.
They have published their findings in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. The title of their report, “The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index is a valid measure of physical function in gout” says it all.
Clinical evaluation of gout sufferers compared well with the HAQ-DI scores. They also noted that:
A strong relationship between days of sick leave and HAQ-DI was observed in gout patients.
The fact that the HAQ-DI questionnaire is easy to use makes this report even more valuable. Self-assessments are easily produced, and easy-to-follow guidance notes for gout sufferers are available.
Their conclusion that:
HAQ-DI has good construct and internal validity in gout
makes future gout research and drug trials easier to assess.
Immediate Gout Sufferer Benefits
The best part of this research is the news that gout sufferers can use this tool themselves as a way to assess their gout. This is a great way to track your progress with any gout remedies you may be trying. It also allows you to compare different gout therapies to assess their relative improvements.
Have you tried this questionnaire yet? Download it by clicking the link above, then discuss your results in the gout forum.
I’ve transferred this gout relief page, first published on 26th September 2008, from my old website. Though these questionnaires have been downloaded a few times, I’ve never seen any feedback on them. If you follow a good gout plan, using the guidelines in the Gout Treatments section, you probably do not need this type of index. Lowering uric acid should mean that measuring pain relief is unnecessary in the long term, and little value in the short term. However, if you are starting a gout management plan, it would be interesting to see some before and after figures.
Leave this gout relief page to browse the Gout Treatments section.