Final ratings following the third iteration of the patient survey.
| Survey Items | Median (30th to 70th percentile) Rating† | Disagreement Index†† | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Items agreed by patients as being discriminatory | |||
| Blood test shows an increase in uric acid in the blood | 9 (9 to 9) | 0 | |
| During an attack of gout the pain is so bad you find it hard to walk | 9 (9 to 9) | 0 | |
| During an attack of gout you cannot use the affected joint | 9 (8.6 to 9) | 0.05 | |
| During an attack of gout the pain is so bad it interrupts your sleep | 9 (8.2 to 9) | 0.1 | |
| During an attack of gout the joint is so sensitive you cannot even sleep with a sheet touching the affected area | 9 (7.2 to 9) | 0.26 | |
| Medication such as indomethacin, allopurinol, or colchicine keeps the gout attacks at bay | 9 (6.6 to 9) | 0.37 | |
| The pain is of a throbbing type | 9 (5.6 to 9) | 0.59 | |
| Presence of crystals from joint fluid under a microscope | 9 (5.6 to 9) | 0.59 | |
| An attack of gout often occurs after eating seafood/shellfish* | 8 (7 to 9) | 0.29 | |
| Onset of an attack is sudden | 8 (6.6 to 9) | 0.37 | |
| The big toe is affected | 8 (6 to 9) | 0.49 | |
| The affected joint is hot | 8 (5.6 to 9) | 0.59 | |
| The affected joint is red | 8 (5.6 to 9) | 0.59 | |
| Tophi (lumps) are present in areas such as the elbows, fingers, and toes | 8 (5 to 9) | 0.75 | |
| The pain is annoying | 8 (4.2 to 8.4) | 0.98 | |
| A flare-up of an attack of gout responds rapidly to medication such as prednisone or naproxen | 7 (7 to 7.8) | 0.13 | |
| The affected area is very sensitive to touch | 7 (6.2 to 9) | 0.45 | |
| The affected joint is swollen | 7 (6 to 9) | 0.49 | |
| An attack of gout often occurs after consuming alcohol* | 7 (6 to 8.6) | 0.45 | |
| Severe, sharp pain in the affected joint | 7 (5.6 to 9) | 0.59 | |
| The affected joint is enlarged | 7 (5.6 to 8) | 0.48 | |
| If you injure an area that has been affected by gout, it takes longer to heal than one that has not been affected by gout* | 7 (5 to 9) | 0.75 | |
| Only one foot is usually affected at a time | 7 (5 to 9) | 0.75 | |
| The pain is still present even when the affected joint is not being moved/used | 7 (5 to 9) | 0.75 | |
| There is a burning feeling in the affected area | 7 (4.6 to 8.4) | 0.83 | |
| Items agreed to be uncertain | |||
| An attack of gout often occurs after eating red meat* | 6 (5.4 to 7.2) | 0.42 | |
| An increase in blood pressure may be observed* | 5 (5 to 7.8) | 0.63 | |
| Other members of your family have/have had gout* | 5 (5 to 6.6) | 0.45 | |
| The duration of an attack of gout is relatively short (1–2 days)* | 5 (4.4 to 6.6) | 0.71 | |
| Items agreed to be not discriminatory | |||
| The affected joints appear deformed/have changed shape* | 3 (2.4 to 5) | 0.6 | |
| The elbows are affected* | 3 (1.8 to 5) | 0.67 | |
| The ball of the foot is affected* | 3 (1.4 to 5.6) | 0.91 | |
| The fingers are affected* | 3 (1.4 to 4.2) | 0.5 | |
| An attack of gout often occurs after eating asparagus | 3 (1 to 5) | 0.75 | |
| The knees are affected* | 3 (1 to 4.2) | 0.54 | |
| The pain is always present in the hands — even in the absence of an attack of gout | 1 (1 to 5) | 0.75 | |
| Items for which there was disagreement | |||
| The pain may produce depression* | 7 (4 to 9) | 1.09 | |
| The joints in the top of the foot are affected* | 4 (2.4 to 6.2) | 1.12 | |
| White lumps are observed on the fingers* | 5 (3.8 to 8) | 1.14 | |
| The area around the affected joint is swollen* | 8 (3.8 to 9) | 1.17 | |
| The pain is worse when you move the affected joint* | 5 (3.4 to 8.6) | 1.35 | |
| When these lumps are lanced they release a white substance* | 1 (1 to 6.8) | 1.45 | |
| Friction/rubbing makes the affected joint more painful* | 5 (1.8 to 6.8) | 1.47 | |
| The attack resolves quickly* | 5 (2.4 to 7) | 1.64 | |
| The affected joint is stiff* | 3 (1.8 to 7.6) | 2.07 | |
| The ankles are affected* | 5 (2.4 to 7.6) | 2.21 | |