Long-term survival experience of patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Long-term survival of patients with multiple sclerosis is not well characterized because this disorder is relatively uncommon and subjects must be followed for decades after onset of symptoms. This paper reports comparative mortality experience of the world's largest series on an unselected cohort with multiple sclerosis. RESULTS Excess mortality varied with age, gender, duration since onset and diagnosis, calender year of onset, and clinical severity. CONCLUSIONS Compared to the general population in Denmark, patients with multiple sclerosis had less favorable survival experience during long-term follow-up.