Mortality associated with primary hyperparathyroidism

561 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were followed between 1961 and 1994. Relative survival was compared to that of the Australian population studied during the same time interval. Mortality was significantly greater in the hyperparathyroid population (P<0.001). Mortality was not greater in the patients with serum calcium levels >3.00 mmol/L compared to those with a serum calcium levels <3.00 mmol/L. 113 patients did not have parathyroid surgery. Their relative survival was not significantly different from those who had surgery but their mean serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were significantly lower than those who had surgery. A re-analysis of the 453 patients followed between 1972 and 2011 was carried out and a 20-year survival analysis made of those diagnosed between 1972 and 1981 and those diagnosed between 1982 and 1991. The latter group had significantly worse relative mortality than the former group (P<0.001) but was significantly older at the time of diagnosis (56.94 ± 14.83 vs 52.01 ± 13.58, P<0.001). The serum calcium and serum PTH levels were not significantly different between these two groups.