Increased mortality in Dupuytren's disease

A previous study showed a dip in the prevalence curve of Dupuytren's diseas e in men over 79 years of age. This may indicate increased mortality, The a im of the present investigation was to study this hypothesis. Four hundred and twenty-six men with Dupuytren's disease, born between 1900 and 1924 wer e followed for 26 years (1969-1996), Their mortality was compared with that of an age-matched control group of 426 men. In 1996, 361 with Dupuytren's disease and 336 in the control group had died. Overall, patients with Dupuy tren's disease had a significantly increased mortality of 22%, The mortalit y was highest among those with onset of disease before the age of 60, In th is age group men with Dupuytren's disease had 70% higher mortality than tha t of the control group. Disease duration did not seem to influence the mort ality.