Comorbidities in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis versus the General Population.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the consultation rates of selected comorbidities in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) compared with the general population in southern Sweden.


METHODS
We used data from a population-based cohort of patients with AAV diagnosed between 1998 and 2010 in Southern Sweden (701,000 inhabitants). For each patient we identified 4 reference subjects randomly sampled from the general population and matched for year of birth, sex, area of residence, and index year. Using the population-based Skåne Healthcare Register, we identified relevant diagnostic codes, registered between 1998 and 2011, for selected comorbidities assigned after the date of diagnosis of AAV or the index date for the reference subjects. We calculated rate ratios for comorbidities (AAV:reference subjects).


RESULTS
There were 186 patients with AAV (95 women, mean age 64.5 yrs) and 744 reference persons included in the analysis. The highest rate ratios (AAV:reference) were obtained for osteoporosis (4.6, 95% CI 3.0-7.0), followed by venous thromboembolism (4.0, 95% CI 1.9-8.3), thyroid diseases (2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.3), and diabetes mellitus (2.0, 95% CI 1.3-2.9). For ischemic heart disease, the rate ratio of 1.5 (95% CI 1.0-2.3) did not reach statistical significance. No statistically significant differences were found for cerebrovascular accidents.


CONCLUSION
AAV is associated with increased consultation rates of several comorbidities including osteoporosis and thromboembolic and endocrine disorders. Comorbid conditions should be taken into consideration when planning and providing care for patients with AAV.
['Englund|Martin|M|', 'Merkel|Peter A|PA|', 'Tomasson|Gunnar|G|', 'Segelmark|Mårten|M|', 'Mohammad|Aladdin J|AJ|']
D000368:Aged D056648:Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis D015331:Cohort Studies D015897:Comorbidity D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010024:Osteoporosis D013548:Sweden D054556:Venous Thromboembolism
COMORBIDITIES ANCA-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODIES OUTCOME POPULATION-BASED STUDY