Nationwide linkage analysis in Scotland to assess mortality following hospital admission for Crohn's disease: 1998-2000.

BACKGROUND: Although population-based studies of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) suggest only a modestly increased mortality, recent data have raised concerns regarding the outcome of CD patients requiring hospitalisation.

AIM: To determine the mortality and contributory factors in 1595 patients hospitalised for CD in Scotland between 1998 and 2000.

METHODS: The Scottish Morbidity Records database and linked datasets were used to assess longitudinal patient outcome, and to explore associations between 3-year mortality and age, sex, comorbidity, admission type and social deprivation. The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) at 3 years from admission was calculated with reference to the Scottish population.

RESULTS: The SMR was 3.31 (95% confidence interval 2.80-3.89). This was increased in all patients, other than those <30 years at presentation, and was highest in patients aged 50-64 years (SMR 4.84 [3.44-6.63]). On multivariate analysis, age >50, admission type, comorbidity, social deprivation and length of admission were significantly associated with mortality. Other than age, admission type was the strongest factor predictive of death. Three-year crude mortality was 0.3% for elective surgical, 8.7% for emergency surgical, 8.3% for elective nonsurgical and 12.7% for emergency nonsurgical admission (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates high mortality rates in patients hospitalised during 1998-2000 for CD, especially in patients over 50. Elective surgery is associated with lower mortality than emergency surgery or medical therapy. Further study is needed to determine whether these patterns have changed following the introduction of biological treatment.