Key clinical point: Pain intensity has limited predictive value for preterm or excess mortality, whereas recent glucocorticoid use and comorbidities were associated with an increased risk of early mortality in patients with psoriatic arthritis.
Major finding: Higher mean pain intensity was associated with an increased risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.10). However, this association attenuated after adjusting for additional confounders. Recent glucocorticoid use (OR, 5.60; 95% CI, 3.71-8.45), concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.06-2.80), diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.19-2.90), cancer (OR, 7.17; 95% CI, 4.70-10.93), and cardiovascular disease (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.06-4.49) were all associated with early mortality.
Study details: This nested case-control study included 276 patients with psoriatic arthritis who died (cases) and 1,187 matched controls using data from the nationwide DANBIO register and Danish healthcare registers.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the Danish Psoriasis Foundation Grant, the Danish Rheumatism Foundation Grant, and a grant from Aalborg University and Aalborg University hospital. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Vela J et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Mar 1. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab192 .