MORTALITY IN PATIENTS WITH CROHNS-DISEASE

Background: No data on mortality for Crohn's disease are available fro m southern Europe. Methods: Five hundred and thirty-one patients with Crohn's disease were observed in our unit between 1973 and 1993. Tn 32 5 patients the first diagnosis was made in our hospital. In this conse cutive incidence series, in which the follow-up was 99% complete, the standardized mortality rate (SMR) was calculated. Results: Nine deaths were observed, against 9.25 expected. The SMR was 0.97 (95% confidenc e interval (CI), 0.4-1.8). The relative risk of dying was significantl y higher in the female group in the first 5 years after diagnosis (SMR , 10.3; 95% CI, 2.30-30.2). There was an excess of deaths from tumors of the digestive organs (1 observed, 0.37 expected). Conclusions: Thes e results show that in our geographic area the mortality from Crohn's disease was not increased as shown in other community studies.