Deaths Associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis in France from 1969 to 2009

Objective. To describe deaths for which ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was on death certificates in France. Methods. Death certificates in which AS was indicated were evaluated. Standard mortality ratio (SMR) was assessed. Results. AS appeared in 2940 death certificates. The mortality rate of AS seemed stable. The most frequent initial causes were diseases of the circulatory system [ 28.3% in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th ed (ICD-10)]. SMR adjusted for age and sex were 2.1 (95% CI 1.45-2.91) for infections and 0.43 (0.36-0.5) for cancers (ICD-10 period). Conclusion. This study found an increase in mortality from infectious and external causes of death; conversely, patients with AS appear to die less frequently from cancer.