Objective:

To assess the annual frequency and rates of gout-related ED encounters in Ontario, Canada, and examine health care use before and after these visits.

Approach:

• Study Design: Population-based retrospective health systems analysis of patients with ED visits for gout from 2014 to 2023 in Ontario, Canada.
• Data Sources: Utilized administrative databases including the Canadian Institutes for Health Information National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) and the Registered Persons Database (RPDB) to identify ED visits and sociodemographic characteristics.
• Definitions: Defined ED visits for gout using ICD-10-CA code M10 and excluded severe cases requiring resuscitation to improve case definition accuracy.

Key Findings:

• A significant number of ED visits for gout occur, particularly among older men with comorbidities.
• Low follow-up care utilization post-ED discharge, with high rates of opioid prescriptions.
• 30% of patients discharged from the ED for gout return to acute care within 90 days.

Interpretation:

The study highlights the burden of gout-related ED visits and identifies gaps in follow-up care that could be addressed to improve patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to data from Ontario and may not be generalizable to other regions.
• Potential inaccuracies in administrative data may affect the findings.

Conclusion:

Identifying the burden of gout-related ED encounters and associated care gaps can inform future research and quality improvement efforts.