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Specific causes of death in patients with bullous pemphigoid as measured by death certificate data: a retrospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Barrick Benjamin J.,
Lohse Christine M.,
Lehman Julia S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/ijd.12243
Subject(s) - medicine , death certificate , retrospective cohort study , cause of death , bullous pemphigoid , cohort , population , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , disease , immunology , physics , environmental health , antibody , optics
Background Mortality rates in patients with bullous pemphigoid ( BP ) are higher than those in age‐matched counterparts. However, the specific causes of death in BP subjects have not been evaluated systematically. Objectives We sought to characterize the causes of death in patients with BP as recorded by death certificate and to compare these with death data for age‐ and location‐matched control subjects. Methods This was a retrospective cohort analysis conducted in a large tertiary referral center. Twenty‐seven participants who had a confirmed antemortem diagnosis of BP , were residents of O lmsted C ounty, M innesota, and had died between January 1, 1999, and January 1, 2009, were included in the study. Underlying cause of death and multiple causes of death data for the study population were compared with data sourced from the C enters for D isease C ontrol and P revention ( CDC ) for a control group matched by age and geographic location of origin by I nternational C lassification of D iseases, 10th R evision ( ICD ‐10) block, and specific ICD ‐10 codes. Results Comparisons of specific ICD ‐10 codes revealed increased rates of sepsis ( P = 0.031), dementia ( P = 0.049), and major depressive disorder ( P = 0.005) in the study group. The collective incidence of ICD ‐10 codes for infections indicated that infections were more frequent contributors to death in the study group ( P = 0.035). Conclusions Clinicians should be mindful of contributors to death in patients with BP and might consider screening for mental health issues, educating patients on the early symptoms of sepsis, and minimizing risk factors for infection.