MORTALITY IN SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS - A COMPARISON WITH THE GENERAL-POPULATION

Objective. To compare the mortality rate in patients with systemic scl erosis (SSc) with that of the general population. Methods, Standardize d mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated for 237 patients with SSc fol lowed prospectively, using age and sex specific mortality rates in Ont ario for the period 1976-1990. Results, The overall SMR for the SSc co hort was 4.69, The mortality rate was greater with diffuse than with l imited scleroderma (SMR 6.18 and 3.80, respectively), but not differen t between men and women. Conclusion, The mortality rate in SSc is incr eased compared to that of the general population, especially in the su bset with diffuse disease.