OBJECTIVETo investigate the quality of life in patients with gout and their influencing factors, and to observe the effects of the intervention program of stage-based treatment of integrative medicine (IM).

METHODSTotally 120 patients with acute attack of gout within 72 h were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 60 in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with Huzhang Tongfeng Granule (HTG), diclofenac sodium extended-release capsule and Jinhuang Ointment (JO) in the acute stage, and Yinlian Tongfeng Granule (YTG) and Benzbromarone Tablet (BT) in the intermission stage. Patients in the control group were treated with diclofenac sodium extended-release capsule in the acute stage, and BT in the intermission stage. All patients were treated for 12 weeks. The quality of life (QOL) before and after treatment was investigated by questionnaire.

RESULTSBefore treatment there were no statistical difference in the physiological function, psychological function, social function, health self-awareness and total score between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment the scores of the four aspects and the total score were significantly improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). And the improvement of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the gender, age, marital status, educational level, QOL with or without associated disease between the two groups (P > 0.05). The QOL of patients with joint stiffness or deformity was less than that of those without joint stiffness or deformity (P < 0.01). The total QOL scores of the gout patients were obviously correlated with the course of diseases (r = -0.324, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe QOL of patients with gout was correlated with the course of disease and joint stiffness or deformity. Stage-based treatment of IM could significantly improve the QOL of f out patients.