Table 1.

Population characteristics at index date.

CharacteristicsGCA Patients, n = 103Controls*, n = 606p**
Age, yrs, mean, median (range)74.8, 77 (51–91)74.7, 77 (51–91)0.97
Females, n (%)80 (77.7)469 (77.4)1.0
Followup, mean (± SD), mos48.9 (± 14.8)48.0 (± 13.1)0.56
GCA with PMR, n (%)57 (55.3)——
First prednisone dose, mean (± SD), mg/d54.5 ± 27——
Comorbidities, n (%)
  Cardiovascular diseases11 (10.7)88 (14.5)0.63
  Diabetes mellitus5 (4.9)90 (14.9)0.004
  Lung diseases1 (1.0)2 (0.3)0.38
  Cancer10 (9.7)48 (7.9)0.56
  Dementia1 (1.0)4 (0.7)0.54
  Psychiatric disorders1 (1.0)10 (1.7)0.58
  Other024 (4.0)0.05
Drugs exposure, n (%)
  Antihypertensives57 (55.3)303 (50.0)0.39
  Platelet aggregation inhibitors19 (18.5)103 (17.0)0.78
  Cardiac glycosides or antiarrhythmics5 (4.9)51 (8.4)0.32
  Statins, n (%)28 (27.2)142 (23.4)0.45
    Cumulative dose, median (range), DDD70 (10–252)84 (14–378)0.10
  Atorvastatin, n (%)2 (1.9)32 (5.3)0.21
    Cumulative dose, median (range), DDD37 (14–60.7)84 (14–378)0.13
  Fluvastatin, n (%)3 (2.9)10 (1.7)0.42
    Cumulative dose, median (range), DDD37 (10–120)112 (38.7–298.7)0.15
  Pravastatin, n (%)11 (10.7)47 (7.8)0.33
    Cumulative dose, median (range), DDD93 (18.7–242.7)93 (18.7–223.8)0.71
  Rosuvastatin, n (%)014 (2.3)0.24
    Cumulative dose, median (range), DDD—91 (14–196)—
  Simvastatin, n (%)12 (11.7)39 (6.4)0.05
    Cumulative dose, median (range), DDD65 (18.7–252)89 (18.7–240)0.31

  • ↵* For 12 patients, only 5 accurately matched controls could be found in the database.

  • ↵** p values > 0.05 not significant. DDD: defined daily dose; GCA: giant cell arteritis; PMR: polymyalgia rheumatica.