Healthcare burden of public hospital gout admissions in New South Wales, Australia

Background and AimsIn New Zealand, the M & amacr;ori and Pacific Islander population has a higher rate of hospital admissions for gout; however, we lack data for these population groups who reside in Australia. This study examined the pattern of hospital gout admissions in New South Wales (NSW), the most populous state of Australia, with a particular focus on the M & amacr;ori and Pacific Islander population.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study exploring the pattern of gout admissions in NSW public hospitals in the financial years 2017/2018 to 2019/2020. All patients aged >= 20 years, admitted to hospital with gout as the principal diagnosis between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2020, were included in this study. Outcomes measured included the number and costs of these hospital admissions. Crude and age-standardised admission rates were calculated.ResultsWestern Sydney Local Health District (LHD) and South Western Sydney LHD had the highest number of hospital admissions with a principal diagnosis of gout (n = 537 and 788 admissions, respectively) in the 3-year study period. M & amacr;ori and Pacific Islanders had higher rates of admissions due to gout (109.9 admissions per 100 000 people, compared to 20.0 for non-M & amacr;ori/non-Pacific Islanders) and were of younger age.ConclusionsThis study highlights the ethnic and geographical disparities in gout hospital admissions in NSW, with the M & amacr;ori and Pacific Islander population of Western and South Western Sydney disproportionately affected. Culturally appropriate gout management strategies may be needed in the M & amacr;ori and Pacific Islander population to address the large number of gout cases in western and southwestern Sydney.