title: Mortality predictors among 263 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: A cohort of 263 patients who completed Health Assessment Questionnaires (HAQ) each year from 1981 to 1989 is examined. Forty-three (43) possible covariates measured in 1981 are considered that might help predict mortality over the 8 years of the study. We use univariate correlation coefficients, stepwise regressions, and survival functions to identify a number of covariates that appear useful for predicting survival: age (-), prednisone use (-), disability index (-), male sex (-), never married (-), penicillamine use (+), divorced (+), and no occupation (-). Our results confirm studies suggesting that the HAQ disability index is a useful prognosticator of length of survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leigh
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fries
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010396:Penicillamine; D011241:Prednisone