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All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorder

Fernández de la Cruz, Lorena ; Isomura, Kayoko ; Kuja-Halkola, Ralf ; Lichtenstein, Paul ; Larsson, Henrik ; Chang, Zheng ; D'Onofrio, Brian M. ; Brikell, Isabel ; Sidorchuk, Anna and Mataix-Cols, David LU (2024) In Movement Disorders
Abstract

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) and chronic tic disorder (CTD) may be associated with an increased risk of mortality, but specific causes of death are poorly understood. Objectives: In this matched cohort and sibling cohort study, we estimated the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with TS/CTD, compared with unaffected matched individuals and unaffected full siblings. Methods: We identified all individuals diagnosed with TS/CTD in the Swedish National Patient Register who were living in the country between 1973 and 2020 and matched them (1:10) to individuals without TS/CTD from the general population. We also identified their siblings without TS/CTD. All-cause and cause-specific mortality outcomes, based on... (More)

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) and chronic tic disorder (CTD) may be associated with an increased risk of mortality, but specific causes of death are poorly understood. Objectives: In this matched cohort and sibling cohort study, we estimated the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with TS/CTD, compared with unaffected matched individuals and unaffected full siblings. Methods: We identified all individuals diagnosed with TS/CTD in the Swedish National Patient Register who were living in the country between 1973 and 2020 and matched them (1:10) to individuals without TS/CTD from the general population. We also identified their siblings without TS/CTD. All-cause and cause-specific mortality outcomes, based on the International Classification of Diseases codes, were extracted from the Cause of Death Register. Covariates included sociodemographic variables and psychiatric disorders. Risks of mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: We included 10,280 individuals with TS/CTD and 102,800 matched individuals without TS/CTD. In adjusted models, individuals with TS/CTD had an 86% increased hazard of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.65–2.11). The increased risk was observed for both natural (particularly nervous, digestive, and respiratory system diseases) and unnatural causes of death (including suicides and accidents). The sibling comparison showed similar results, indicating that the associations were unlikely to be explained by familial confounding. Conclusions: Individuals with TS/CTD are at increased risk of death due to both natural and unnatural causes. As some of these deaths are potentially preventable, greater focus on the somatic health of individuals with TS/CTD is warranted.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
chronic tic disorder, epidemiology, mortality, suicide, Tourette syndrome
in
Movement Disorders
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85212202352
  • pmid:39679818
ISSN
0885-3185
DOI
10.1002/mds.30084
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d5141980-31a7-4098-b417-ccfc495674a1
date added to LUP
2025-01-31 14:04:41
date last changed
2025-08-02 05:22:55
@article{d5141980-31a7-4098-b417-ccfc495674a1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) and chronic tic disorder (CTD) may be associated with an increased risk of mortality, but specific causes of death are poorly understood. Objectives: In this matched cohort and sibling cohort study, we estimated the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with TS/CTD, compared with unaffected matched individuals and unaffected full siblings. Methods: We identified all individuals diagnosed with TS/CTD in the Swedish National Patient Register who were living in the country between 1973 and 2020 and matched them (1:10) to individuals without TS/CTD from the general population. We also identified their siblings without TS/CTD. All-cause and cause-specific mortality outcomes, based on the International Classification of Diseases codes, were extracted from the Cause of Death Register. Covariates included sociodemographic variables and psychiatric disorders. Risks of mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: We included 10,280 individuals with TS/CTD and 102,800 matched individuals without TS/CTD. In adjusted models, individuals with TS/CTD had an 86% increased hazard of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.65–2.11). The increased risk was observed for both natural (particularly nervous, digestive, and respiratory system diseases) and unnatural causes of death (including suicides and accidents). The sibling comparison showed similar results, indicating that the associations were unlikely to be explained by familial confounding. Conclusions: Individuals with TS/CTD are at increased risk of death due to both natural and unnatural causes. As some of these deaths are potentially preventable, greater focus on the somatic health of individuals with TS/CTD is warranted.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fernández de la Cruz, Lorena and Isomura, Kayoko and Kuja-Halkola, Ralf and Lichtenstein, Paul and Larsson, Henrik and Chang, Zheng and D'Onofrio, Brian M. and Brikell, Isabel and Sidorchuk, Anna and Mataix-Cols, David}},
  issn         = {{0885-3185}},
  keywords     = {{chronic tic disorder; epidemiology; mortality; suicide; Tourette syndrome}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Movement Disorders}},
  title        = {{All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorder}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mds.30084}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/mds.30084}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}