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Giant Cell Arteritis & Polymyalgia Rheumatica Prevalence Estimates
Semin Arthritis Rheum; ePub 2017 Apr 7; Crowson, et al
Prevalence rates of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in 2015 are similar to previously published prevalence estimates in the late 1990s, according to a recent study. Cohorts of incident GCA in 1950–2009 and incident PMR in 1970–2014 were previously identified among residents of Olmsted County, MN. Prevalence estimates were obtained from the age-, sex- and calendar year-specific incidence rates and adjusted to the US white 2010 population aged ≥50 years. Researchers found:
- There were 248 incident cases of GCA in 1950–2009 and 790 cases of PMR in 1970–2014.
- The overall age- and sex-adjusted prevalence rate of GCA on January 1, 2015, was 204 per 100,000 population aged ≥50 years.
- GCA prevalence rate in women was 304 and in men, 91 per 100,000 population.
- The overall age and sex adjusted prevalence rate of PMR on January 1, 2015, was 701 per 100,000 population.
- PMR prevalence rate in women was 870 and in men, 508 per 100,000 population.
Crowson CS, Matteson EL. Contemporary prevalence estimates for giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, 2015. [Published online ahead of print April 7, 2017]. Semin Arthritis Rheum. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2017.04.001.