{
  "abstract": "Introduction Differences between male and female patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have been investigated in several international cohort studies with varying foci of interest and results. However no such studies have been completed in the Australian SSc population. We sought to determine the differences in demographic, serologic and clinical characteristics between male (M) and female (F) patients with SSc in an Australian cohort.Material and Methods A retrospective observational study was performed using prospectively collected data from the ASCS. Male patients were compared to female patients using chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum and student t-tests. Survival analysis from time of diagnosis to all-cause mortality was presented on Kaplan-Meier curves. A sub-analysis of patients with incident SSc, defined as disease duration less than 4 years from onset of first non-Raynaud’s manifestation, to recruitment was performed.Results Of 2,033 participants, 299 (14.7%) were male with a F:M ratio of 5.8:1. At enrolment, males were more likely to have a shorter disease duration (4.1vs7.8) years, p<0.001) and present with diffuse skin involvement (43.7%vs23.6%, p<0.001). Males were more likely to have anti-Scl-70, anti-Jo-1 and anti-PM/Scl antibodies compared to females. Males reported more exposure to silica dust (30.9%vs3.7%), organic solvent (23.3%vs6.9%), vinyl chloride (8.8%vs1.9%) and epoxy resin (27.4%vs5.0%, p<0.001) compared with females. On presentation, males were more likely to have peripheral vascular disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), pleuropericarditis and muscle disease while females were more likely to present with gastrointestinal symptoms (21.6%vs14.5%, p<0.001). In regards to cumulative disease burden, males were also more likely to have ever had digital ulcers, pitting, gangrene and tendon friction rubs as well as significant organ involvement such as myositis and ILD. Although males were more likely to have medical comorbidities, and have had exposure to cigarettes and alcohol, their primary cause of death was more likely to be SSc-related (64.9%vs51.6%, p=0.041). Males had significantly higher mortality with 50% of males compared to 78% of females surviving to 11 years from enrolment in the ASCS.Conclusions Males with SSc present with a greater burden of disease-specific features and comorbidities. Males with SSc have significantly reduced survival in comparison to females with almost half of males deceased within 11 years. The significant difference between occupational exposures recorded between sexes warrants further investigation into the role of industrial exposures in the pathogenesis of SSc in males.Abstract P.374 Figure 1",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Emily Lin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Dylan Hansen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Maryam Tabesh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Laura Ross"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Mandana Nikpour"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Rheumatology Unit Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Susanna Proudman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Rheumatology Unit Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Jenny Walker"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Gabor Major"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Lauren Host"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Nava Ferdowsi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Alannah Quinlivan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Wendy Stevens"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Gene-Siew Ngian"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Diane Apostolopoulos"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Joanne Sahhar."
    }
  ],
  "title": "P.374 Characteristics and outcomes of males in the Australian scleroderma cohort study (ASCS",
  "uid": "07a88d64-81aa-5480-a934-303940f31bb9"
}