COVID-19 and gout: Any interrelationship?

Sir, COVID-19 is an important respiratory disease. This disease can cause lung problems and might result in death. The patients with underlying disease might have increased severity.[1] There are many possible concurrent medical problems with COVID-19. Gout is a common metabolic disorder. There is no previous report on the interrelationship between gout and COVID-19. Here, the authors would like to share observations from a Southeast Asian country, the second country in the timeline of the COVID-19 worldwide outbreak.[2] At present (March 3, 2020), there are 1978 patients with COVID-19 in this area. There are 19 death cases. Gout is a comorbidity in 2 (0.1%) patients. Of those two patients with underlying gout, one died of acute renal failure during hospitalization for COVID-19 treatment. The mortality rate is significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in those with underlying gout (50% vs. 0.9%; odds ratio = 108.7). This is the first preliminary data on the interrelationship between gout and COVID-19. Further studies are required for conclusion. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.