Contemporary prevalence estimates for giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, 2015

Abstract

Objective There are no estimates of the prevalence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in a US population in the current millennium. The purpose of this study was to estimate the 2015 prevalence of GCA and PMR in a US population-based setting. Methods Cohorts of incident GCA in 1950–2009 and incident PMR in 1970–2014 were previously identified among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota. 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. Confidence intervals [CI] were computed using bootstrap sampling. Results 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 (95% CI: 161–254) per 100,000 population aged ≥50 years. GCA prevalence rate in women was 304 (95%CI: 229–375) and in men was 91 (95%CI: 46–156) per 100,000 population. The overall age and sex adjusted prevalence rate of PMR on January 1, 2015 was 701 (95%CI: 651–750) per 100,000 population. PMR prevalence rate in women was 870 (95%CI: 787–957) and in men was 508 (95%CI: 426–589) per 100,000 population. Conclusion Prevalence rates of GCA and PMR in 2015 are similar to previously published prevalence estimates in the late 1990s. The health burden of these diseases among older persons continues to be substantial and reflects the need for continued efforts to better manage it.

Training in and comfort with diagnosis and management of ophthalmic emergencies among emergency medicine physicians in the United States

“…Unlike these usually unilaterally vision-impairing emergencies, delayed diagnosis and treatment of GCA may lead to rapid bilateral blindness [ 24 – 26 ]. Fortunately, GCA is uncommon; the estimated age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence is 204 per 100,000 people aged ≥50 in the US [ 27 ], 15% to 25% of which may develop permanent vision loss [ 28 ]. Even so, as vision loss may be preventable with early initiation of treatment, and since vision loss is associated with substantial personal and societal costs, early recognition is crucial.…”

Riesenzellarteriitis: Aktuelle Erkenntnisse zu Epidemiologie, Pathogenese, Diagnostik und Therapie

“…B. klinische Diagnose vs. bioptisch gesicherte Fälle) und unterschiedlicher Screeningverfahren [7]. Eine aktuelle Arbeit geht in den USA in der Population der über 50-jährigen von einer Gesamtprävalenz von 204 auf 100 000 Einwohner aus (bei Frauen 304, bei Männern 91 pro 100 000) [8]. Auch wenn die Inzidenz der RZA seit dem 1990iger Jahren stabil zu sein scheint, ist von einer steigenden Prävalenz in den nächsten Jahrzehnten auszugehen, dies v. a. dem zunehmenden Altersdurchschnitt der untersuchten Bevölkerung geschuldet [7].…”

Utility of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Inflammatory Rheumatism, Particularly Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Retrospective Study of 222 PET/CT

“…Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most frequent rheumatism in France, with a prevalence of 0.35% (1). In people older than age 50, the prevalence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) is 700/100,000 and 204/100,000, respectively (2). The ACR/EULAR's 2010 criteria for RA (3) and its 2012 criteria for PMR (4) enable orientation of the diagnosis of these diseases; however, their sensitivities and specificities remain limited (57.9% and 88.8% for RA, 66% and 81% for PMR, respectively).…”