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Predictors of giant cell arteritis in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica in southern Sweden—a retrospective study

Fors, Charlotta LU ; Bergström, Ulf LU ; Mohammad, Aladdin J. LU and Turesson, Carl LU (2025) In Rheumatology Advances in Practice 9(4).
Abstract

Objective: To identify predictors of GCA in patients with PMR. Methods: Patients with PMR were identified among participants in two population-based health surveys. Those with a registered diagnosis indicating PMR in national and regional registers (the latter including primary care) were included. Medical records from hospitals and primary care were systematically reviewed. PMR diagnoses were verified by a rheumatologist in an independent review. Potential predictors were examined using logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 1508 medical records, 1030 had sufficient data available. PMR diagnoses were verified in 626 patients (61%). GCA was diagnosed within 1month of PMR diagnosis in 37 patients and at a later time point in 20... (More)

Objective: To identify predictors of GCA in patients with PMR. Methods: Patients with PMR were identified among participants in two population-based health surveys. Those with a registered diagnosis indicating PMR in national and regional registers (the latter including primary care) were included. Medical records from hospitals and primary care were systematically reviewed. PMR diagnoses were verified by a rheumatologist in an independent review. Potential predictors were examined using logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 1508 medical records, 1030 had sufficient data available. PMR diagnoses were verified in 626 patients (61%). GCA was diagnosed within 1month of PMR diagnosis in 37 patients and at a later time point in 20 patients. Female patients were more likely to develop GCA at PMR diagnosis or later [odds ratio (OR) 2.38 (95% CI 1.23, 4.61)]. Higher ESR and CRP levels were also associated with GCA. A lower risk for GCA was seen in those presenting with pain/stiffness in the hip [OR 0.51 (95% CI 0.28, 0.92)]. Conclusion: In this large cohort of patients with verified PMR, GCA was diagnosed in a limited subset (9%) and was more common in females. A lower risk for GCA was seen in patients with pain/stiffness in the hip at onset of PMR, suggesting that prominent musculoskeletal symptoms and cranial arteritis represent different parts of the GCA–PMR spectrum.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
epidemiology, giant cell arteritis, inflammation, polymyalgia rheumatica, primary care rheumatology
in
Rheumatology Advances in Practice
volume
9
issue
4
article number
rkaf112
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:41140743
  • scopus:105019772121
ISSN
2514-1775
DOI
10.1093/rap/rkaf112
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology.
id
9b6af2a8-dff5-4ced-ac1a-a7723d28a7b3
date added to LUP
2026-01-15 16:18:42
date last changed
2026-01-29 17:38:48
@article{9b6af2a8-dff5-4ced-ac1a-a7723d28a7b3,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: To identify predictors of GCA in patients with PMR. Methods: Patients with PMR were identified among participants in two population-based health surveys. Those with a registered diagnosis indicating PMR in national and regional registers (the latter including primary care) were included. Medical records from hospitals and primary care were systematically reviewed. PMR diagnoses were verified by a rheumatologist in an independent review. Potential predictors were examined using logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 1508 medical records, 1030 had sufficient data available. PMR diagnoses were verified in 626 patients (61%). GCA was diagnosed within 1month of PMR diagnosis in 37 patients and at a later time point in 20 patients. Female patients were more likely to develop GCA at PMR diagnosis or later [odds ratio (OR) 2.38 (95% CI 1.23, 4.61)]. Higher ESR and CRP levels were also associated with GCA. A lower risk for GCA was seen in those presenting with pain/stiffness in the hip [OR 0.51 (95% CI 0.28, 0.92)]. Conclusion: In this large cohort of patients with verified PMR, GCA was diagnosed in a limited subset (9%) and was more common in females. A lower risk for GCA was seen in patients with pain/stiffness in the hip at onset of PMR, suggesting that prominent musculoskeletal symptoms and cranial arteritis represent different parts of the GCA–PMR spectrum.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fors, Charlotta and Bergström, Ulf and Mohammad, Aladdin J. and Turesson, Carl}},
  issn         = {{2514-1775}},
  keywords     = {{epidemiology; giant cell arteritis; inflammation; polymyalgia rheumatica; primary care rheumatology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Rheumatology Advances in Practice}},
  title        = {{Predictors of giant cell arteritis in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica in southern Sweden—a retrospective study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkaf112}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/rap/rkaf112}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}