According to the search results, the life expectancy for people with hemochromatosis varies depending on the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. The cumulative survival rate was 76% at 10 years and 49% at 20 years .
Reduced Life Expectancy with Complications
Patients who presented with cirrhosis or diabetes at the time of diagnosis had a reduced life expectancy compared to those without these complications . Specifically, patients with cirrhosis were 5.5 times more likely to die than non-cirrhotic patients .
Normal Life Expectancy with Early Treatment
However, the search results indicate that patients diagnosed in the precirrhotic stage and treated with venesection (blood removal) had a normal life expectancy that was virtually identical to an age-matched normal population . Early diagnosis and treatment are key to achieving a normal lifespan for those with hemochromatosis.