BACKGROUND: Several studies show a high mortality risk among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES: In this study, mortality and underlying causes of death were analysed among patients with MS diagnosed between 1964-1993 in Finland (n = 1595). METHODS: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for both genders. The follow-up was based on linkage to the national computerized Cause-of-Death Register of Statistics Finland. RESULTS: Altogether, 464 deaths were recorded by the end of 2006. The SMR as compared with the general population among females was 3.4 (95% confidence interval 3.0-3.9) and among males 2.2 (1.9-2.6). In total, 270 patients (58%) died from MS; only one of these deaths occurred during the first 2 years after the MS diagnosis. Mortality was also increased for other natural causes of death (n = 160) in patients followed for more than 10 years (SMR 1.4, 1.2-1.7), with a significant increase in deaths from influenza (29, 6.0-85), pneumonia (4.7, 2.5-8.0) and gastrointestinal causes (4.4, 2.3-7.7). The SMR for violent causes was 1.2 (0.7-1.9) and for alcohol-related deaths 0.2 (0.02-0.7). The SMR for suicides was 1.7 (0.9-2.7). CONCLUSIONS: The MS population has an increased disease mortality, while the increase in the risk of accidents and suicides is not significantly increased among patients with MS in Finland.
BACKGROUND: Several studies show a high mortality risk among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES: In this study, mortality and underlying causes of death were analysed among patients with MS diagnosed between 1964-1993 in Finland (n = 1595). METHODS: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for both genders. The follow-up was based on linkage to the national computerized Cause-of-Death Register of Statistics Finland. RESULTS: Altogether, 464 deaths were recorded by the end of 2006. The SMR as compared with the general population among females was 3.4 (95% confidence interval 3.0-3.9) and among males 2.2 (1.9-2.6). In total, 270 patients (58%) died from MS; only one of these deaths occurred during the first 2 years after the MS diagnosis. Mortality was also increased for other natural causes of death (n = 160) in patients followed for more than 10 years (SMR 1.4, 1.2-1.7), with a significant increase in deaths from influenza (29, 6.0-85), pneumonia (4.7, 2.5-8.0) and gastrointestinal causes (4.4, 2.3-7.7). The SMR for violent causes was 1.2 (0.7-1.9) and for alcohol-related deaths 0.2 (0.02-0.7). The SMR for suicides was 1.7 (0.9-2.7). CONCLUSIONS: The MS population has an increased disease mortality, while the increase in the risk of accidents and suicides is not significantly increased among patients with MS in Finland.
Authors: Antonio Scalfari; Volker Knappertz; Gary Cutter; Douglas S Goodin; Raymond Ashton; George C Ebers Journal: Neurology Date: 2013-07-09 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: D S Goodin; A T Reder; G C Ebers; G Cutter; M Kremenchutzky; J Oger; D Langdon; M Rametta; K Beckmann; T M DeSimone; V Knappertz Journal: Neurology Date: 2012-04-11 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Emmanuelle Leray; Sandra Vukusic; Marc Debouverie; Michel Clanet; Bruno Brochet; Jérôme de Sèze; Hélène Zéphir; Gilles Defer; Christine Lebrun-Frenay; Thibault Moreau; Pierre Clavelou; Jean Pelletier; Eric Berger; Philippe Cabre; Jean-Philippe Camdessanché; Shoshannah Kalson-Ray; Christian Confavreux; Gilles Edan Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-06 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Douglas S Goodin; George C Ebers; Gary Cutter; Stuart D Cook; Timothy O'Donnell; Anthony T Reder; Marcelo Kremenchutzky; Joel Oger; Mark Rametta; Karola Beckmann; Volker Knappertz Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2012-11-30 Impact factor: 2.692