Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with increased mortality rates. However, influence of lifestyle parameters remains unknown, and inconsistencies exist regarding findings for causes of death.
METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study using the General Practice Research Database, Hospital Episode Statistics, and national death certificates (January 2001 through March 2008). To each patient with MS (n = 1270), up to six referent subjects without MS were matched by age, gender, and practice. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate mortality rate ratios (HRs).
RESULTS: Patients with MS had a 3.5-fold increased mortality rate for all-cause mortality, compared with referent subjects (HR 3.51, 95% CI 2.63-4.69). The rate further increased amongst current smokers (HR 6.72, 95% CI 4.16-10.87) (but not in ex-smokers) and subjects with a body mass index of <20 kg/m(2) (HR 6.67, 95% CI 3.50-12.73). The HR was highest for infectious/respiratory-related deaths (HR 7.69, 95% CI 4.92-12.02) and was significantly increased for deaths related to cardiovascular diseases (2.4-fold) and cancer (1.9-fold), but not for accidents and suicide related deaths.
CONCLUSION: British patients with MS have a 3.5-fold increased mortality rate compared with the general population. Smoking and respiratory diseases are major (potentially preventable) factors related to increased mortality rate amongst patients with MS.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1007-14 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | European Journal of Neurology |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Body Mass Index
- Cause of Death/trends
- Cohort Studies
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Kaplan-Meier Estimate
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Multiple Sclerosis/epidemiology
- Population Surveillance/methods
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Smoking/epidemiology
- Young Adult