Do you have gout?

This is a study of people with gout to help us understand the impact of gout attacks on physical activity and also to determine whether physical activity might be a trigger for gout attacks.

Gout (mate waikawa kai kōiwi) is a common form of arthritis. Gout can cause sudden attacks (flare-ups) of pain and swelling. Research has shown that people with gout have lower levels of physical activity compared to people without gout. This could be due to a number of reasons. Some people with gout have identified excessive physical activity as a trigger for their gout attacks and avoid being physically active for fear of triggering an attack. The pain of a gout attack also prevents people with gout from being physically active. This poses an important problem because ‘regular exercise’ is recommended for people with gout to improve overall health. As part of this research, we are looking for people with gout to wear a watch for 6 months, which will track their physical activity and sleep. Participants will also be asked to record any gout attacks they experience over the 6 months using an app on their mobile phone.

You do not have to consider yourself to be an active person to participate in this study. Physical activity includes activities that you might do at work, part of your house and yard work, to get from place to place, as well as what you might do in your spare time for recreation, exercise or sports.

What’s involved?

Participation will involve attending a single visit at either our AUT North Campus (located in Northcote, Auckland) or AUT South Campus (located in Manukau, Auckland). At this visit, a research officer will ask you some questions about yourself and your gout and ask you to complete some questionnaires. The research officer will also give you a watch to wear over the next 6 months and help you download two study apps onto your phone – this will allow you to keep a record of any gout attacks you experience over the next 6 months.

This study visit will take no more than 60 minutes. You will not need to attend any further study visits.

At the end of the 6 months, you will be able to keep your study watch. You will also be offered $50 koha in supermarket vouchers at the study visit and posted a further $50 koha in supermarket vouchers at the end of the 6 months (total $100).

Eligibility criteria

You may be eligible for this study if you:

• Have been diagnosed with gout by a doctor
• Are aged 20 years or older
• Are living in Aotearoa New Zealand
• Have had at least 2 gout attacks in the past 6 months
• Have your own smartphone
• Are able to wear the study wristwatch to track your activity and sleep over the next 6 months

Participant information sheet

Download the information sheet

This study was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

This study has been approved by the Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee on 15.05.2024 AUTEC Reference number 24/72.