title: Incidence, Prevalence, and Survival of Biopsy-Proven Giant Cell Arteritis in Northern Italy During a 26-Year Period.
abstract: To investigate the epidemiology and mortality in patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) in northern Italy.
  
  
  
  All patients with incident temporal-artery biopsy-positive GCA, diagnosed between 1986 and 2012 and living in the Reggio Emilia area, were identified by using a pathology register and by reviewing all histopathologic specimens. For each patient, we identified 1 comparison subject from the same geographic area, matched for age and sex. Mortality rates and specific causes of death were reported.
  
  
  
  There were 285 incident cases of biopsy-proven GCA (210 women) during the 26-year study period. The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence per 100,000 persons ages ≥50 years was 5.8 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.1, 6.5). Incidence was significantly higher in women (7.8 [95% CI 6.7, 8.9]) than in men (3.3 [95% CI 2.6, 4.1]) (P < 0.0001). Annual age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates significantly increased by 15.9% per 3 years from 1986 to 2000, then significantly fell by -4.8% per 3 years from 2001-2012. The prevalence of GCA on December 31, 2012 was 87.9 (95% CI 75.8, 101.4). No significant differences in the mortality rates were observed between GCA patients (4.9 per 100 person-years [95% CI 4.1, 5.8]) and non-GCA subjects (5.6 [95% CI 4.7, 6.6]). No significant differences in causes of death were observed comparing GCA patients to non-GCA subjects.
  
  
  
  This large population-based study of biopsy-proven GCA confirmed the lower incidence of GCA in Mediterranean countries and did not observe any increased mortality risk.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catanoso
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macchioni
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boiardi
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Restuccia
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavazza
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pipitone
authors.affiliation: Azienda USL di Reggio Emilia and Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.affiliation: Azienda USL di Reggio Emilia and Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luberto
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors