A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology reveals significant disparities in adherence to allopurinol, a common urate-lowering therapy for gout, among different racial groups and regions in the United States. The research indicates that Black patients and those residing in the South are particularly affected by low adherence rates, which can lead to severe health complications.
The study analyzed data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, covering the years 2018 to 2021, and found that only 35.2% of patients achieved high adherence to allopurinol. Black patients were about half as likely to adhere to their medication regimen compared to White patients.
Specifically, the odds ratio of 0.49 means that for every 100 White patients who adhere to their medication, only about 49 Black patients do the same. Additionally, patients living in the South were slightly more than half as likely to adhere to their medication regimen compared to those living in the Northeast, with an odds ratio of 0.54. This means that for every 100 patients in the Northeast who adhere to their medication, only about 54 patients in the South do the same.
These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve medication adherence among Black patients and those in the South. The study’s authors suggest that socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, such as income, education level, and insurance type, play a role in these disparities. However, these variables were not significantly associated with adherence in the study, indicating that other unmeasured factors may also contribute.
The study underscores the importance of addressing these disparities to ensure that all patients with gout receive the full benefits of their treatment. By improving adherence to allopurinol, healthcare providers can help reduce the burden of gout and its associated complications in minority and underserved communities.
See: “Reduced adherence to allopurinol in the US linked to race and residence” (March 4, 2025)
