title: Total mortality is increased in rheumatoid arthritis. A 17-year prospective study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the total and cause-specific mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to a control population in northern Norway. One hundred and eighty-seven patients with RA and 930 population controls matched for age, gender and municipality were followed until death or for a maximum of 17 years. The total mortality in RA patients was twice that of their controls (MRR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.6-2.5). Patients possessing serum rheumatoid factors did not have a higher relative mortality than the seronegative patients. There was no statistically significant increased mortality from cancer or cardiovascular diseases. Indications for a higher death rate in RA patients than in controls were found for infection and sudden death.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riise
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Gran
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arnesen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D012217:Rheumatoid Factor