In April, the government announced plans for England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, aimed at addressing the life expectancy gap and health conditions that disproportionately affect men.
To help shape the strategy, the government launched a call for evidence – and Versus Arthritis used this opportunity to highlight the estimated 8.7 million men in England living with arthritis and MSK conditions whose needs must be recognised.
Versus Arthritis highlighted gout throughout their response, as gout is more common in men, with 66,000 people newly diagnosed with gout each year. This included tackling some of the myths around gout and that it is caused by the high consumption of rich foods and alcohol. While diet can play a part in triggering flair ups, gout is actually caused by high levels of uric acid in the body.
These misconceptions can lead to poor patient experience, poor treatment options, and stigma. We know that treatments for gout can be very successful but often people are not getting the care they need.
The government must play its part in helping to address the things that can increase the risk of developing arthritis and other MSK conditions, as well as things that can make managing them more challenging. MSK conditions also share risk factors common with other long-term conditions.
Read more of Versus Arthritis’ response to the Men’s Health Strategy.