Mortality Predictors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Save
A population based study from southern Denmark finds excess mortality RF-positive males with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and that employment status and comorbidity were independent predictors of mortality.
Investigators stuided 509 RA patients between 1995 to 2002, of whom 200 (39%) died during 6079 person-years of follow-up.
The most frequent underlying causes of death were cardiovascular disease (34%), neoplasms (26%), and respiratory disease (12%).
Seropositive (RF+) males hand an increased standardized mortality ratio of 1.47 (1.15-1.88), but also for cardiovascular disease 1.63 (1.09-2.46), respiratory disease 2.03 (1.06-3.90), and neoplasms 2.26 (1.02-5.03). The SMR was great for those over age 79 years - SMR 2.45 (1.23-4.90).
RF modified the effect of age. Employment status, comorbidity, and gender were independent baseline predictors of subsequent mortality.
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