Table 1

General characteristics of the population according to age groups

n (%)≤ 64A
(n=195)
65–79B
(n=617)
≥80C
(n=192)
P valuePost hoc comparisons (with Bonferroni significant if p<0.017)
Female152 (78)422 (68)137 (71) 0.035 A vs C 0.161; B vs C 0.475; A vs B 0.011
Cranial GCA68 (35)395 (64)148 (77) <0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C 0.001; A vs B <0.0001
LV-GCA127 (65)222 (36)44 (23)
Ischaemic onset29 (15)149 (24)79 (41) <0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C <0.0001; A vs B 0.007
Cranial onset120 (62)487 (79)159 (83) <0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C 0.259; A vs B <0.0001
Systemic symptoms onset149 (77)386 (63)100 (52) <0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C 009; A vs B <0.0001
Median onset ESR (IQR) (mm/h)83 (60–102)76 (54–100)73 (56–97)0.299
Median onset CRP (IQR) (mg/L)73.6 (38–120)61 (31–105.4)61.5 (30.5–99.5)0.0764
Very elevated ESR/CRP onset120 (69)381 (67)116 (62)0.30
Mean Hb11.5±1.611.8±1.511.6±1.50.161
Initial GC to treat GCA>50 mg/day52 (28)100 (17)29 (15) 0.002 A vs C 0.004; B vs C 0.736; A vs B 0.001
Mean initial GC dose50.5±16.546.8±15.848.1±18.1 0.007 A vs B <0.001; A vs C 0.011, B vs C 0.388
Treated with intravenous GC36 (23)87 (15)39 (22) 0.018 A vs C 0.793; B vs C 0.039; A vs B 0.021
Antiplatelet started for GCA32 (53)118 (43)37 (38)0.162
Diagnosis confirmed on TAB50 (25)245 (40)84 (43)<0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C 0.355; A vs B <0.0001
Diagnosis confirmed on imaging144 (76)339 (60)95 (53)<0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C 0.117; A vs B <0.0001
LV imaging performed144 (76)314 (56)74 (41)<0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C 0.001; A vs B <0.0001
Clinical diagnosis only13 (7)110 (18)46 (24)<0.0001 A vs C <0.0001; B vs C 0.06; A vs B <0.0001
Symptoms duration (IQR), months1.12 (0–2.73)1.25 (0.53–2.5)0.99 (0.39–2.01)0.031A vs C 0–239; B vs C 0.007; A vs B 0.065
Follow-up duration (IQR), months60 (30–108)51 (24–96)47 (22–81)na
  • CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GC, glucocorticoid; GCA, giant cell arteritis; LV, large vessel; na, not applicable; PMR, polymyalgia rheumatica; TAB, temporal artery biopsy.