Table 1.

Characteristics of patients with GCA and matched referent subjects. Values are n (%) unless otherwise specified.

CharacteristicsGCA Subjects, n = 147Non-GCA Subjects, n = 147p
Female118 (80)118 (80)1.00
Age, yrs, mean ± SD77.2 ± 8.276.9 ± 8.50.85
Comorbidity type†
  Myocardial infarction18 (12)29 (20)0.08
  Congestive heart failure40 (27)43 (29)0.70
  Peripheral vascular disease61 (41)38 (26)0.005
  Cerebrovascular disease62 (42)48 (33)0.09
  Dementia23 (16)27 (18)0.53
  Chronic pulmonary disease53 (36)60 (41)0.40
  Peptic ulcer35 (24)23 (16)0.08
  Diabetes mellitus27 (18)35 (24)0.25
  Hemiplegia5 (3)7 (5)0.56
  Moderate/severe renal disease26 (18)30 (20)0.55
  Liver disease10 (7)15 (10)0.30
  Any cancer70 (48)76 (52)0.48
  Charlson Comorbidity Index*, mean ± SD4.4 ± 3.84.4 ± 3.70.73

  • ↵† Comorbidities diagnosed either prior to GCA incidence (or index date for the non-GCA subjects) or at any time during the first 5 years of the matched followup.

  • ↵* Rheumatologic comorbidities were excluded. GCA: giant cell arteritis.