title: SLE mortality in an oriental population.
abstract: We analysed the causes of 67 deaths, over a 4 y period, in our oriental population with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The median disease duration was 48 +/- 60.5 months (range 1-250 months). The mean age at diagnosis and death were 30 and 35.1 y respectively. SLE alone accounted for death in 30 patients (44.8%), infection in 27 (40.3%), pulmonary embolism in 5 (7.5%), malignancy in 4 (5.9%) and rheumatic heart disease in 1 (1.5%). The major organ involvement in those with active disease at death were SLE related thrombocytopenia (n = 23/44, 52.3%), nephritis (n = 21/44), 47.7%), cerebral lupus (n = 16/44, 36.4%), and pulmonary haemorrhage (n = 12/44, 27.3%). As in other series, SLE and infection were the principal causes of death in our population. During this 4 y period, there was no late death due to atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seow
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000401:mortality*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate