The co-morbidities and mortality rate among rheumatoid arthritis patients at the western region of Saudi Arabia : a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract EN

To evaluate the mortality rate in a well-defined hospital ; based patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis over a three year period and to investigate the causes of death with their associated risk factors.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted for rheumatoid arthritis patients over a three year period (2006-2008) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah at the western region of Saudi Arabia.

The causes of death and the associated co-morbidities were registered and compared statistically in relation to the mortality rate.

Patients who fulfilled the criteria of the study were included (n = 116).

The mortality rate was 16 %.

The most important causes of death and contributing factors were cardiovascular system diseases and infections (58 %), followed by respiratory system diseases (47 %) and renal impairment (32 %).

The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity (p < 0.001, 0.01, 0.03).

This study gives important information of the variables associated with the mortality in rheumatoid arthritis and the associated factors which may accelerate the occurrence of an earlier death.