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This study aimed to identify the indications for hospitalization, hospital mortality rate, predictors of hospital mortality, and clinical parameters affecting length of stay (LOS) among Thai systemic sclerosis (SSc). A retrospective study was performed in SSc patients admitted in Khon Kaen University, Thailand, between January 2008 and December 2010. The respective clinical factors affecting LOS and predictors of mortality were analyzed using the Spearman's rank correlation and the Cox regression model. There were 202 hospital admissions among 131 SSc patients. The female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1. The median age at admission was 54.7 years (interquartile range (IQR) 49.2-62.9), the duration of disease at admission was 2.9 years (IQR 1.1-7.8), and the LOS was 5 days (IQR 2-10). The indications for hospitalization were divided equally between SSc-related and non-SSc-related events (53.5 vs. 46.5 %, respectively). The most common indication for hospitalization was infection (23.3 %) and pneumonia is the most common cause of infection (58.0 %). Prolonged LOS was related to fatigability status ( p < 0.01), intestinal involvement ( p < 0.01), electrolyte disorders ( p < 0.01), multiple comorbidities ( p < 0.01), modified Rodnan skin score ≥20 points ( p = 0.01), disease duration under 5 years ( p = 0.02), cardiac arrhythmia ( p = 0.04), and deficiency anemia ( p = 0.04). Hospital mortality was 16.8 per 100 person-years (95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 10.8-24.3). Infection (59.1 %) was the most common cause of death, particularly from bacterial pneumonia. Clinical predictors of mortality were: disseminated intravascular coagulation related to infection (hazard ratio (HR) 52.73; 95 % CI 1.26-403.74), cardiac arrhythmia (HR 32.89; 95 % CI 3.00-359.95), electrolyte disorders (HR 15.66; 95 % CI 2.04-119.98), renal crisis (HR 13.38; 95 % CI 1.80-99.36), intestinal involvement (HR 10.42; 95 % CI 2.58-42.01), admission due to a non-SSc-related condition (HR 8.93; 95 % CI 2.21-36.13), and disease duration under 5 years (HR 6.67; 95 % CI 1.21-36.52). Infection was the most common cause of hospitalization. Prolonged LOS and hospital mortality should be warning signs in patients with shorter disease duration, presence of intestinal involvement, cardiac arrhythmia, and multiple comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin tightness is a major clinical manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Importantly for both clinicians and patients, spontaneous regression of the fibrosis process has been documented. The purpose of this study is to identify the incidence and related clinical characteristics of spontaneous regression among Thai SSc patients. A historical cohort with 4 years of follow-up was performed among SSc patients over 15 years of age diagnosed with SSc between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006 in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The start date was the date of the first symptom and the end date was the date of the skin score ≤2. To estimate the respective probability of regression and to assess the associated factors, the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis was used. One hundred seventeen cases of SSc were included with a female to male ratio of 1.5:1. Thirteen patients (11.1%) experienced regression. The incidence rate of spontaneous skin regression was 0.31 per 100 person-months and the average duration of SSc at the time of regression was 35.9 ± 15.6 months (range, 15.7-60 months). The factors that negatively correlated with regression were (a) diffuse cutaneous type, (b) Raynaud's phenomenon, (c) esophageal dysmotility, and (d) colchicine treatment at onset with a respective hazard ratio (HR) of 0.19, 0.19, 0.26, and 0.20. By contrast, the factor that positively correlated with regression was active alveolitis with cyclophosphamide therapy at onset with an HR of 4.23 (95% CI, 1.23-14.10). After regression analysis, only Raynaud's phenomenon at onset and diffuse cutaneous type had a significantly negative correlation to regression. A spontaneous regression of the skin fibrosis process was not uncommon among Thai SSc patients. The factors suggesting a poor predictor for cutaneous manifestation were Raynaud's phenomenon, diffuse cutaneous type while early cyclophosphamide therapy might be related to a better skin outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]