title: [Prognostic factors in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].
abstract: Survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is highly variable. In a prospective study of 71 patients, we analyzed the influence of several clinical factors on survival: age of onset, sex, initial involvement (bulbar, upper extremities or lower extremities) and familial history. Mean time of evolution was 2.6 years, with 25% survival 5 years after onset. Patients under 45 years old had better survival than those over 45 (5.8 and 2.2 years, respectively, p < 0.002). The prognosis for women was worse (2.07 and 3.6 years for women and men, respectively, p < 0.001), probably because age of onset was later in women (61 versus 53 years, respectively, p < 0.006). Neither first symptom or familial history of the disease affected prognosis. We conclude that age at onset is a decisive prognostic factor that is inversely related to survival. In the design of clinical trials in which survival is a variable, the treatment and control groups should be matched for age.
authors: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Martí-Fàbregas
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pradas
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Illa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate
vernacular_title: Factores clínicos pronósticos en la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica.