SSc-related co-morbidities among patients deemed to have died from causes unrelated to SSc (sepsis, pneumonia and gastrointestinal haemorrhage)
| Cause of death | No significant SSc comorbidity (N) | Significant SSc comorbidity (N) | Type of SSc-associated comorbidity or disease entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia | 4 | 13 | Oesophageal reflux (8) with aspiration (5) |
| Bedridden patients (5) | |||
| Septicaemia | 6 | 8 | Gangrene, leg ulcers and decubitus (6) |
| Surgery for Barrett's oesophagus (1) | |||
| Addison's crisis due to prednisone withdrawal (1) | |||
| Gastrointestinal haemorrhage | 1 | 2 | Oesophageal haemorrhage due to primary biliary cirrhosis |
SSc, systemic sclerosis.