Background Few data are available on clinical features of women with gouty arthritis in sub-Saharan Africa

Objectives To assess differences in the clinical features of gouty arthritis between female and male patients in a sub-Saharan Cameroonian population

Methods A cross-sectional study from January 2004 to December 2014 conducted in the Rheumatology Unit of the General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon. We included patients with diagnosis of gout according to 1977 ACR criteria. A comparison with male patients with gout was made

Results We included 511 patients (415 men and 96 women). The main characteristics of patients are summarized in Table 1. Gout in women was characterized by an elevated age at onset, high frequency of fever during acute attacks, high frequency of hyperuricemia and uric acid crystals in the synovial fluid, greater prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, diuretics and low-dose aspirin intake. Women had fewer tophy than men (p>0.05); also, women had more tophi at the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints than men.

Conclusions Gout in women seems to present specific characteristics. Further studies are needed to better understand these differences

Disclosure of Interest None declared