Primary Sense Update: new medication safety alerts for gout

Given the medical implications for patients with gout, two new Medication Safety Alerts have been developed triggered by the prescription for urate-lowering therapy and set criteria being met.

Alert 1 – Gout Flare prophylaxis 

A medication alert generated due to a new prescription for urate-lowering therapy in the absence of gout flare prophylaxis.  

Which patients are included:

• Patients ≥18 years of age.  

• Patients active in the CIS.  

• Patients with a diagnosis of gout based on diagnosis and / or reason for visit (active or inactive).  

Criteria for a trigger:

• No urate-lowering therapy (ULT) prescribed in last 24 months. 

Alert 2 – Gout Treat-to-target 

A medication alert generated due to the latest serum urate concentration being above the treatment target of 0.36 mmols/L. 

Which patients are included:

• Patients ≥18 years of age.  

• Patients active in the CIS.

• Patients with a diagnosis of gout based on diagnosis and / or reason for visit.  

• Last recorded serum urate concentration (SUC) > 0.36 mmol/L (no time limit for last recorded value).  

Criteria for a trigger:

• Re-prescribing a urate-lowering therapy previously prescribed in the last 18 months. Ceased medications are not counted as an active prior prescription.