Derivation and Validation of a Prediction Rule for Two‐Year Mortality in Early Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis. Issue 6 (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Domsic, Robyn T.; Nihtyanova, Svetlana I.; Wisniewski, Stephen R.; Fine, Michael J.; Lucas, Mary; Kwoh, C. Kent; Denton, Christopher P.; Medsger, Thomas A.
• Is Part Of: Arthritis & rheumatology. Volume 66:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 1616
• Page End: 1624
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Arthritis -- Periodicals; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.72
• DOI: 10.1002/art.38381
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2326-5191

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="art38381-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a reduction in life expectancy, but there are no validated prognostic models for determining short‐term mortality. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a prediction rule for 2‐year mortality in patients with early diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc).</p> </sec> <sec id="art38381-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We studied a prospectively enrolled cohort of 387 US Caucasian patients with early dcSSc (<2 years from the appearance of the first symptom), randomly divided into a derivation cohort (n = 260) and a validation cohort (n = 127). Predefined baseline predictor variables were analyzed in a stepwise multivariable logistic regression model in order to identify factors independently associated with 2‐year all‐cause mortality using a cutoff of <italic>P</italic> < 0.05. We rounded the beta values to the nearest integer and summed the points assigned to each variable in order to stratify patients into low‐risk, moderate‐risk, and high‐risk groups. We then applied this rule to an external validation cohort of 110 Caucasian patients with early dcSSc from a single UK center and compared stratum‐specific mortality using chi‐square statistics.</p> </sec> <sec id="art38381-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Four independent predictor variables (with assigned integer values) comprised the model: age at first visit (points allotted: –1, 0, or 1), skin thickness progression rate (points allotted: 0 or 1), gastrointestinal tract severity (points allotted: 0, 1, or 2), and anemia (points allotted: 0 or 2). The prediction model performed well, with no significant differences between the derivation cohort and the US or UK validation cohorts in the low‐risk and moderate‐risk groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="art38381-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>We derived a 4‐variable prediction rule that can be used to stratify patients with early dcSSc into groups by risk of 2‐year mortality, and we validated that prediction rule in US and UK cohorts.</p> </sec> </abstract>