Giant Cell Arteritis Risk High in Patients Older Than 80

Women who are older than 80 years and who are White are most at risk for developing giant cell arteritis (GCA), according to findings from the first nationwide study to report national GCA incidence and demographics in the US. The research was presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2021 meeting in New Orleans, held November 12-15. 

Researchers reviewed the records of 200,533 patients who received a GCA diagnosis between 2007 and 2016 to help determine incidence, associated complications and in-hospital mortality. Participants had a median age of 80 years. The investigation found a national GCA incidence of 6.42 per 100,000 Americans. The rate of women with GCA (9.49 per 100,000) was more than double that of men (3.43 per 100,000). 

Approximately 10% of GCA patients had associated visual symptoms. They were more common than any systemic complications, including stroke, which was the most common (8.4%), and in-hospital mortality (2.7%).

Demographic data extrapolated from the research demonstrated that the GCA rates are higher in White patients (7.52 per 100,000) than in Black patients (3.75 per 100,000).   

“The study confirms that individuals who are >80 years of age, female and white are at high risk for developing GCA,” according to the report.

Reference

Qiang K, Mir TA. Epidemiology of Giant Cell Arteritis in the United States: A Nationwide Study, 2007-2016. Paper presented at: The American Academy of Ophthalmology 2021 Annual Meeting; November 12-15; New Orleans. Abstract PA049.