Study of epidemiological aspects of hyperuricemia in Poland

BACKGROUND: The results of the latest epidemiological studies show that the problem of hyperuricemia affects many millions of people. The main purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge of physicians with regard to the epidemiology and treatment of hyperuricemia in Poland. METHODS: CAPI (computer assisted personal interview) interviews were conducted using short questionnaires among primary health care physicians, cardiologists and diabetologists. The entire questionnaire included 11 questions. Questions were asked to physicians at 5 different periods in time. The number of physicians surveyed, depended on the time period, and ranged from 8663 to 9980. RESULTS: Only every 1 in 7 physicians (14%) considered that hyperuricemia in patients with cardiovascular risk factors begins when the uric acid level is 5 mg/dL, thus in line with the expert recommendations. 72% of respondents asked to indicate the uric acid levels they consider to be indicative of hyperuricemia in patients in the cardiovascular risk group, gave values ranging from 6 to 7 mg/dL, namely the values justified in cases of a patient without such a risk, i.e. in the general population. 86% of doctors surveyed gave values different from that recommended by experts. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the questionnaire in this survey suggests that doctors often underestimate the problem of hyperuricemia in patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. An important step towards more effective therapy of hyperuricemia in routine clinical practice is to raise the awareness of hyperuricemia and its comorbidities both among doctors and patients and encourage monitoring and treatment.