TY - JOUR
T1 - Serum prealbumin is an independent predictor of mortality in systemic sclerosis outpatients
AU - Codullo, Veronica
AU - Cereda, Emanuele
AU - Klersy, Catherine
AU - Cavazzana, Ilaria
AU - Alpini, Claudia
AU - Bonardi, Chiara
AU - Turri, Annalisa
AU - Franceschini, Franco
AU - Caccialanza, Riccardo
AU - Montecucco, Carlomaurizio
AU - Caporali, Roberto
PY - 2016/2/1
Y1 - 2016/2/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Serum prealbumin is a recognized marker of malnutrition, but its role in the prognosis of patients with SSc has not yet been investigated. The aim of the present multicentre prospective study was to investigate the association between prealbumin and mortality, independent of clinical features, in a cohort of SSc outpatients.METHODS: Patients were followed up according to standard clinical guidelines with visits at least every 6 months. Data collected included records of skin and internal organ involvement, survival and causes of death.RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 48 months [interquartile range (IQR) 25-58], 34/299 patients (11%) died. In univariable survival analysis, age; male sex; lung, gastrointestinal or multiple visceral organ involvement (two or more); co-morbidities (two or more) and low serum prealbumin were significant predictors of mortality. In bivariable Cox models, alternatively adjusted for significant predictors, prealbumin was independently and significantly associated with the outcome. Mortality rates were particularly influenced by low prealbumin in patients without significant co-morbidities or multiple organ involvement.CONCLUSION: In SSc patients, low serum prealbumin is an independent predictor of mortality, particularly in those without significant internal organ involvement. Further research on this nutritional marker is warranted.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Serum prealbumin is a recognized marker of malnutrition, but its role in the prognosis of patients with SSc has not yet been investigated. The aim of the present multicentre prospective study was to investigate the association between prealbumin and mortality, independent of clinical features, in a cohort of SSc outpatients.METHODS: Patients were followed up according to standard clinical guidelines with visits at least every 6 months. Data collected included records of skin and internal organ involvement, survival and causes of death.RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 48 months [interquartile range (IQR) 25-58], 34/299 patients (11%) died. In univariable survival analysis, age; male sex; lung, gastrointestinal or multiple visceral organ involvement (two or more); co-morbidities (two or more) and low serum prealbumin were significant predictors of mortality. In bivariable Cox models, alternatively adjusted for significant predictors, prealbumin was independently and significantly associated with the outcome. Mortality rates were particularly influenced by low prealbumin in patients without significant co-morbidities or multiple organ involvement.CONCLUSION: In SSc patients, low serum prealbumin is an independent predictor of mortality, particularly in those without significant internal organ involvement. Further research on this nutritional marker is warranted.
KW - mortality
KW - serum prealbumin
KW - systemic sclerosis
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U2 - 10.1093/rheumatology/kev322
DO - 10.1093/rheumatology/kev322
M3 - Article
C2 - 26359329
AN - SCOPUS:84961879908
VL - 55
SP - 315
EP - 319
JO - Rheumatology
JF - Rheumatology
SN - 1462-0324
IS - 2
ER -