Resources
| Name | Description | Data sources | Responsible organisation(s) | Measure methodology last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dispensed a urate-lowering therapy | This measure shows the percentage of people with identified gout who received urate-lowering therapy at least once in a year. Long-term urate-lowering therapy is used to prevent gout flares and prevent tophus formation, bony erosions and permanent disability in people with gout. Many studies have demonstrated underutilisation of urate-lowering therapy continuously and long term. | National Minimum Dataset, Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), PHO Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Serum urate test within six months of urate-lowering therapy | This measure shows the percentage of people who had serum urate testing in the six months following urate-lowering therapy dispensing. Best practice guidelines recommend that people with gout who are prescribed urate-lowering therapy should have their serum urate level monitored at least every six months. Long-term urate-lowering therapy is not recommended for people with asymptomatic hyperuricaemia. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), PHO Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Regularly dispensed a urate-lowering therapy | This measure shows the percentage of people with identified gout who received urate-lowering therapy regularly. Long-term urate-lowering therapy is used to prevent gout flares and prevent tophus formation, bony erosions and permanent disability in people with gout. Many studies have demonstrated underutilisation of urate-lowering therapy. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), PHO Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Gout prevalence | This measure details the prevalence of identified gout in those enrolled with primary health organisations. Rates of gout are particularly high in Māori and Pacific males, meaning districts with a high Māori and/or Pacific population have higher prevalence. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), Primary Health Organisation Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Dispensed prednisone, colchicine or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug without urate-lowering therapy | This measure shows the percentage of people with identified gout who were dispensed any of colchicine, prednisone or funded non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but not dispensed urate-lowering therapy in a year. Acute gout flares are treated with colchicine, oral corticosteroids such as prednisone or NSAIDs. This measure may reflect people experiencing acute gout flares who are not on long-term preventive therapy for gout. Gout management guidelines state that people experiencing frequent (two or more) acute gout flares per year should be offered long-term urate-lowering therapy. Although NSAIDs are effective at treating acute gout flares, these medicines have considerable side effects including kidney injury and peptic ulcer disease. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), PHO Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Dispensed prednisone, colchicine or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug | This measure shows the percentage of people with identified gout who were dispensed any of colchicine, prednisone or funded non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in a year. Acute gout flares are treated with colchicine, oral corticosteroids such as prednisone or NSAIDs. Gout management guidelines state that people experiencing frequent (two or more) acute gout flares per year should be offered long-term urate-lowering therapy. Although NSAIDs are effective at treating acute gout flares, these medicines have considerable side effects including kidney injury and peptic ulcer disease. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), PHO Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Dispensed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug without urate-lowering therapy | This measure shows the percentage of people with identified gout who were dispensed funded non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but not dispensed urate-lowering therapy. While it is not known whether it was gout that led to an NSAID being dispensed, high rates of NSAID dispensing without urate-lowering therapy use may reflect people using NSAIDs to manage their acute gout flares. International best practice indicates that people experiencing frequent gout flares (two or more per year) should be offered long-term urate-lowering therapy. Large variation may reflect patient preference and/or variable clinical practice. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), PHO Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Hospital admissions in the general population | This measure shows the rate of hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of gout in the general population per 100,000. Variation in admission rates due to gout may indicate different admission criteria between districts , poor gout control or limited access to primary care. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Hospital admissions for people with gout | This measure shows the rate of hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of gout in those identified with gout per 100,000. Variation in admission rates due to gout may indicate different admission criteria between districts , poor gout control or limited access to primary care. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora | |
| Dispensed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug | This measure shows the percentage of people with identified gout who were dispensed funded non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are often the first line of treatment for acute gout flares and some can be purchased from a pharmacy without a prescription. Although NSAIDs are effective at treating acute gout flares, these medicines have considerable side effects including kidney injury and peptic ulcer disease. | National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), Pharmaceutical Collection (PHARMS), PHO Enrolment Collection, Mortality Collection, NZ Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, National Population Projection - Stats NZ | Health Quality & Safety Commission | Te Tāhū Hauora |