The mummy's curse: historical cohort study.

Nelson, Mark R · BMJ · 2002

retrospective_cohort · Level III

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Abstract

To examine survival of individuals exposed to the "mummy's curse" reputedly associated with the opening of the tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor, Egypt, between February 1923 and November 1926. Retrospective cohort study. 44 Westerners identified by Howard Carter as present in Egypt at the specified dates, 25 of whom were potentially exposed to the curse. Length of survival after date of potential exposure. In the 25 people exposed to the curse the mean age at death was 70 years (SD 12) compared with 75 (13) in those not exposed (P=0.87 for difference). Survival after the date of exposure was 20.8 (15.2) v 28.9 (13.6) years respectively (P=0.95 for difference). Female sex was a predictor for survival (P=0.02). There was no significant association between exposure to the mummy's curse and survival and thus no evidence to support the existence of a mummy's curse.

Medical subject headings