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Chapter 2
Methodology
This chapter describes the method used in the study
including study design,
population and sample, inclusion criteria, exclusio
n criteria, variables and conceptual
framework, data collection and data management, mea
surements of renal function and
statistical methods.
2.1 Study design
Patients with gout often have concurrent CKD and th
e relationship between two
conditions is still unclear. Therefore a cross-sect
ional study was conducted to
investigate the risk factors of CKD among gout pati
ents in Nongjik Hospital, Pattani
Province.
2.2 Population and sample
Population
The target population comprised all outpatients who
had
diagnosis of gout (ICD 10
coded as
“M10”) in Nongjik Hospital which is one of communi
ty hospitals in Pattani
Province, Southern Thailand. The diagnosis of gout
was based on symptoms and
serum uric acid level.
Sample
The samples were 167 gout patients at outpatient de
partment of Nongjik Hospital
during January 2004 to December 2010.
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2.3 Inclusion criteria
1. The outpatients who had
diagnosis of gout.
2. The gout patients who had at least 3 serum creat
inine laboratory results in study
period.
3. The gout patients who have been treated with ant
i-gout regularly.
2.4 Exclusion criteria
1. The gout patients who had acute kidney disease.
2. The gout patient who had less than 3 serum creat
inine laboratory results.
3. The gout patients lacked of follow-up for more t
han 1 year in study period.
Figure 2.1: Diagram of gout patient selection
Starting sample of gout patients
n=194
Had less than 3 serum
creatinine lab. results
n=16
Acute kidney disease
n=3
Final sample size
n=167
Lacked of follow-up
for > 1 year
n=8