title: Causes of death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from 1971 to 1991 with special reference to autopsy.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have premature mortality, mostly attributed to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We studied causes of death (CoDs) and contribution of autopsy to them in RA patients treated at a single hospital responsible for primary to tertiary RA treatment in Helsinki. In 1971-1991, 960 RA patients died. The leading CoDs were CVDs, RA, and infections. Over 1971-1991, RA and renal deaths declined, but other CoDs showed no change. Autopsied patients died more frequently than nonautopsied of coronary heart disease (CHD) and gastrointestinal disorders, but less frequently of RA, renal, and endocrinologic diseases. Our finding of autopsied patients having CHD more frequently as a CoD may indicate that CHD, which may be asymptomatic in RA, may be overlooked during lifetime.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, P.O. BOX 263, FI-00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland. riitta.koivuniemi@hus.fi
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koivuniemi
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paimela
authors.forename: Marjatta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leirisalo-Repo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000401:mortality*; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male