Causes of death in multiple system atrophy

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Abstract
All patients registered with the University of Miami/NPF Brain Endowment Bank (UM/BEB) donation programme with a diagnosis of neuropathologically confirmed, definite multiple system atrophy (MSA; n = 21) were included in this study. Pertinent information was gathered by two prospectively filled questionnaires used as part of the UM/BEB’s recruitment process: (a) the UM/BEB Parkinson’s disease registry form, a 128-item, self-administered questionnaire on demographics, environmental exposures, personal and family history, comorbid conditions, activities of daily living, clinical and treatment details; and (b) the “agonal state” form, a 25-item questionnaire on events covering the 48 h before death completed by the treating doctor/nurse. For comparisons, each MSA case was closely matched for age at disease onset (±2 years) and sex with a Parkinson’s disease brain donor by an investigator blinded to the disease status and clinical information. Medical, hospital and hospice …