title: Long-term survival experience of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term survival of patients with multiple sclerosis is not well characterized because this disorder is relatively uncommon and subjects must be followed for decades after onset of symptoms. This paper reports comparative mortality experience of the world's largest series on an unselected cohort with multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excess mortality varied with age, gender, duration since onset and diagnosis, calender year of onset, and clinical severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to the general population in Denmark, patients with multiple sclerosis had less favorable survival experience during long-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Cologne Life Reinsurance Company, Stamford, CT 06905, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pokorski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis