Prevalence, incidence, mortality and causes of death in a large cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an Italian population-based study
Main finding · Prevalence, incidence and mortality of RAResult — go to the resultSMR 1.28 95% CI 1.21–1.35Authors' conclusion
This study provides updated data on epidemiology and mortality of RA in Italy, offering insights for healthcare planning and resource allocation.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Veneto region, north-eastern Italy (4.8 million residents), 2012 to 202012,875 incident cases
- Participants
- 37,996 patients
- Exposure
- Patients with RA vs general population
- RAn = 37,996
- Outcome
- Incidence, prevalence, mortality rates (MRs), standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and causes of death in RA
Methodological detailslinked administrative data
- Linked administrative data
Main finding
Prevalence, incidence and mortality of RA
SMR
1.28
95% CI 1.21–1.35
As reported in the abstract
- Prevalence
- 0.54%
- Incidence rate
- 33.1/100 000
- Deaths among prevalent cases
- 7 435
- MR among prevalent cases
- 32.2/1000
- Deaths among incident cases over 8-year study period
- 1288
- MR among incident cases
- 21.3/1000
- Median age at death (years)
- 83 (77-88)
- Cause of death: CVD
- 37.1%
- Cause of death: cancer
- 20.6%
- Cause of death: infections
- 10.9%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | SMR (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| SMR in patients under 45 years of age (subgroup) | 2.15 (0.93–4.24) |
Original publication
Prevalence, incidence, mortality and causes of death in a large cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an Italian population-based study. RMD Open. Published 24 March 2026. doi:10.
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