title: Mortality in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).
abstract: Two hundred and thirty-seven patients with systemic sclerosis were followed prospectively in a scleroderma clinic. The overall 3, 6, and 9-year survival rates were 86, 76 and 61 per cent respectively. Renal, cardiac and pulmonary disease, and older age at enrollment were adverse prognostic factors associated with reduced survival. There were no significant differences in survival between males and females or in patients with restricted compared to those with diffuse skin thickening. Death from systemic sclerosis was most frequently due to pulmonary hypertension, with fewer than expected deaths from renal or cardiac causes. Twenty-eight per cent of deaths were due to causes unrelated to systemic sclerosis, most commonly cancer and ischaemic heart disease, and in older patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Rheumatic Disease Unit, Wellesley Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langevitz
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Alderdice
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aubrey
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buskila
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dutz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khostanteen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piper
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D013997:Time Factors