According to Dr. Duong Minh Tri, Deputy Head of the Department of Respiratory and Musculoskeletal Internal Medicine at Gia Dinh People's Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), the incidence of gout in young people has increased by 15%-20% compared to before. The reason is that a balanced diet with increased protein intake (eating a lot of meat; drinking alcohol, beer, etc.) combined with a lack of exercise leads to increased uric acid in the blood, resulting in gout.
Doctors examine patients with gout at Gia Dinh People's Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City).
Mistakes young people make when they have gout.
According to Dr. Duong Minh Tri, Gia Dinh People's Hospital currently treats approximately 10-15 cases of gout in young people each day. Patients are admitted with varying degrees of severity – from newly onset to recurrent attacks. "The rate of young people who do not adhere to gout treatment at the hospital accounts for 30%-40%. Many patients are admitted when acute attacks recur repeatedly. The reason is that after an acute attack, they only need to take medication for 2 days, so they think they are cured, even though doctors have previously warned them that this is a lifelong disease. Only when the pain recurs many times do patients clearly understand their condition," Dr. Tri informed.
For example, Gia Dinh People's Hospital once admitted and treated patient TVH (34 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) who came for examination with pain and swelling in his knee joint. Prior to this, the patient had attended a party. After waking up the next morning, he experienced joint pain and was admitted for treatment.
After examination and tests, doctors noted that the patient had arthritis; his blood uric acid level was high at 650 mmol/liter (normal range is 210-450 mmol/liter in men and 150-360 mmol/liter in women)... The patient had to be hospitalized for treatment and medication. Doctors followed a treatment plan with medication and advised the patient on proper diet and exercise. However, after being discharged from the hospital, Mr. H. experienced acute pain attacks again.
Despite being advised by his doctor to limit alcohol consumption and adjust his diet to include more vegetables and less red meat and seafood, Mr. H. said that due to the nature of his work, after abstaining for a few months and thinking his condition had stabilized, he ignored the doctor's dietary recommendations. Only after two hospitalizations and two outpatient treatments did Mr. H. fully understand his condition and begin taking his medication regularly. Now, after three months, his uric acid levels have stabilized, and his joint pain has decreased.
Mr. H.'s case is not uncommon. Thong Nhat Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) also recently admitted and treated patient TTM (28 years old) with a knee joint infection, who was admitted in a state of panic.
According to his family, Mr. M. was previously diagnosed with chronic gout. Initially, he took Western medicine, but his body felt hot and he experienced significant pain, so he switched to a traditional healer. The results were rapid pain relief, and he was able to eat and sleep better, so Mr. M. continued to follow the healer's treatment for a long time. Recently, Mr. M.'s knee joint became severely infected, requiring hospitalization. He was treated for the infection and underwent debridement of necrotic tissue.
According to MSc-Dr. Ha Thi Kim Chi, Department of Internal Medicine and Musculoskeletal Disorders, Thong Nhat Hospital, gout used to be more common in middle-aged men. Currently, many gout patients are younger. The hospital frequently receives young people with severe gout and multiple complications.
Complications include the appearance of tophi nodules in the foot joints of gout patients.
It is necessary to follow the treatment instructions given by the doctor.
Dr. Ha Thi Kim Chi emphasized that self-medicating with painkillers or unverified drugs can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, osteoporosis, fractures, diabetes, and myocardial infarction. If tophi (gout nodules) rupture, bacteria can enter the wound, causing septic arthritis and sepsis, which carries a very high risk of death. Complications of gout also reduce mobility, affecting mental health and quality of life.
According to Dr. Chi, there are many causes of gout. The main reason is a disorder in purine metabolism, which increases uric acid in the blood, leading to the deposition of urate crystals in the joints. A diet high in organ meats, seafood, red meat, and alcohol also worsens the condition, especially in young people.
The disease begins with acute episodes of arthritis, characterized by sudden swelling, warmth, redness, and pain in the joints of the legs, especially the big toe joint. If left uncontrolled, the disease can progress to a chronic condition, potentially leading to joint stiffness over time.
Dr. Duong Minh Tri stated that joint disease can cause complications such as tophi nodules in the joints or infected ulcers. In these cases, hospitalization is mandatory. Notably, a serious, insidious complication of joint disease is kidney failure when uric acid levels remain above 500 mmol/liter for an extended period. This complication occurs in 25%-30% of patients.
To identify the condition, Dr. Tri pointed out that after a party, upon waking up in the morning, patients will experience joint pain or mild pain in their toes and feet. In addition, the pain may be atypical, such as in the knee or elbow joints. These pains often become severe, forcing patients to seek medical attention and treatment at the hospital.
Doctors advise gout patients to consult with their doctor and take medication as prescribed; they should also discuss any new medications or dietary supplements with their doctor before using them. In addition, patients must strictly adhere to a proper diet, nutrition plan, and exercise regimen to help stabilize their gout condition.
Avoiding red meat - a challenge for young people.
According to Dr. Duong Minh Tri, adjusting the diet of young people is very difficult to adhere to. In principle, people with gout must completely abstain from red meat. However, not everyone can do this - especially young people - due to the nature of their work, lifestyle, etc.
"Adherence to dietary restrictions is generally better for older adults than for younger people. Therefore, if patients cannot avoid certain foods, they should eat as little as possible. In particular, they should exercise for 20-30 minutes a day to improve metabolism. In addition, patients can switch to eating white meat in moderation or eat more vegetables and fruits to avoid high uric acid levels," Dr. Tri emphasized.
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